u/lvtgrrl

There is so much I can compartmentalize at work but I have never been able to compartmentalize people who make the choice to decline euthanasia.

Client calls yesterday because their dog isn't moving or eating for a couple of days, they dont want to pay for urgent care so want to wait until the next day. The CSR who took the call really felt like this was something that needed to be seen today so she got approval to waive the UC fees for them.

They come in and Holy shit.

2 pounds of laterally recumbent poodle is what they have with them. Hes obviously dehydrated, cant lift his head, is struggling to breathe, and barely alive. This dog is and has been actively trying to die and the client wont let him go. His temp was 92. We get him some O2 and all the heat while the Dr goes to talk to the client. This is not a patient who will get better and the best thing would be to ease his suffering and euthanize. Client say no. Dr tells them he is in significant pain and is actively dying and this is the kindest thing to do. No. They want to take him home. We do get permission to give him a small bonus of fluids and some pain meds. Something to make him more comfortable and probably help speed things along.

Client leaves and all of us try not to scream. There are tears of course. I try to comfort everyone because thats what helps me, but I cant actually do anything but check in and say we did all we could and we advocated and the clients made their choice. It just sucks because I cant say it gets easier to bear this particular burden. I can't offer anything better to make this situation suck less in our heads. The truth is that it never ever gets easier to deal with. Other than saying we did our best and gave what comfort we could, there is nothing else to say. In all my years doing this I have never found a way to make this situation easier to cope with.
Thanks for reading this. I just needed to get it out.

We have a brand new just licensed tech. She was a very part time assistant for some months, then dis her PIMA externship with us. Once she got her license the medical director gave her a skills list that she had to have signed off before she could do those things solo. Ie: intubate a cat 10 times with supervision same for dogs. This is something that is expected of everyone who is licensed and is new to our clinic. Ive done this before at other clinics too. The problem is this person refuses to do it because she has her license and should just be allowed now.

She did her externship with us but would regularly refuse to do the skills due to anxiety. Her attitude since getting her license is that she should just be able to do allbthe things withput actually proving she can perform the skill. On top of all this she constantly complains about the Dr's not trusting her. If she would do the check off list then the Med Director would tell them that she performed the required skills safely and is cleared.

Is this so weird to have a skill check off list? Do ither clinics regularly just hire a fresh LVT and not require that they prove they can do rhe skills safely. Ive never worked anywhere that just let people go without confirming they can do the stuff.

EDIT/UPDATE

Thank you all. A Dr who has more pull than I do sent an email about her attitude. She argued about how to treat a patient and the Dr is understandably mad. So its now being addressed in a serious manner. We shall see what happens. Thank you!