(The
following quotes were taken from actual medical
records dictated by physicians.)
By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had
stopped, and he was feeling better.
On the second day the knee was better and on the
third day it had completely disappeared.
She
has had no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband
states she was very hot in bed last night.
Healthy appearing decrepit 69 year old male, mentally
alert but forgetful.
The patient refused an autopsy.
The patient has no past history of suicides.
The patient expired on the floor uneventfully.
Patient has left his white blood cells at another
hospital.
She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went
in separate directions in early December.
The patient left the hospital feeling much better
except for her original complaints.
Patient’s fluid -intake is good, mostly beer.
Patient has neck veins distended down to ankles. |
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|
Many of the doctors would have
faced cross examination as expert witnesses by lawyers
who had no knowledge of working of hospitals: For example,
Lawyer : Before you signed
the death certificate, had you taken the pulse?
Pathologist : No.
Lawyer : Did you listen to
the heart?
Pathologist : No.
Lawyer : Did you check for
breathing?
Pathologist : No.
Lawyer : So, when you signed
the death certificate you weren’t actually
sure he was dead, were you?
Pathologist : Well, let me put it this way. The man’s
brain was sitting in a jar on my desk. But i guess it’s
possible he could be out there practising law somewhere.
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