Intended for healthcare professionals

Student Reviews

Taking responsibility

BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.060286a (Published 01 February 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:060286a
  1. Daniel P Edgcumbe, final year medical student1
  1. 1Christ's College Cambridge

Ayoung woman in the hospital's discharge lounge approached me nervously, asking if I could get someone to mop the floor because she had spilled a cup of water.

As I laid paper towels down to soak up the mess, she looked at me astonished.

Noting the look of amusement that crept over my face, she said it was nice of me to do it and that a lot of people wouldn't.

It was a sentiment, I fear, that would not be out of place in much of our healthcare service. All too often, tasks are …

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