A Death in Pediatrics – Immersive Rotation Ends in Death to Self
Sudden death in pediatrics is a traumatic experience for everyone involved. For the intern who chooses to complete their rotation in pediatrics to “get the most experience and best learning opportunities available,” the death of an infant patient does not fall within the typical educational purview of a “great learning experience.”
Educators define “a great learning experience” as something that adds value to the learner, and “puts the needs of the learner first.” This is antithetical to the biblical definition of what it means to gain knowledge and understanding; it is through humbling ourselves before God and learning to put others needs first that we grow in all manner of wisdom.
Secular healthcare rotations certainly give students the experience they need to make informed decisions about what to practice. However, Beacon Christian Community Health Center’s objective is to provide medical students with an immersion experience that allows them to learn how to practice healthcare from a Christian worldview – in humility.
Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls …” (Mat.29:11). When the soul of an infant patient is grieved in a hospital setting, a medical student can gain a huge “learning experience” by feeling and expressing the same compassion that our Lord did at the grave of His friend Lazarus. When Jesus saw Lazarus' friends weeping, he wept alongside them. (John 11:33-35).
Such was the experience shared by Dr. M. and a former pediatric resident at Beacon. “One of our kids recently died – DOA at the hospital emergency room. The baby was just six months old. I spoke in person to the pediatric resident who happened to be on call today. She was still upset about what happened. I told her that God intended for her to be there because she was able to ’feel’ and sympathize as much as she could with the family.”
Dr. M said that the resident was concerned about how she had handled the situation. “She worried that she wasn't supposed to cry – that it was unprofessional. I quoted what my former Peds department director told me when I had a similar situation as a resident, ’If you ever stop feeling sad and upset about these things, then you can no longer be a doctor because you will have lost the ability to care. We need the other residents in this hospital to be more like you than for you to be more like them.’”
A main aspect of Christian growth is to become “more like Jesus” and to die to ourselves, to feel the pain of others and to love them in that moment. And this was the experience of our pediatric resident. Beacon helps encourage spiritual growth as part of the dedicated didactic mentoring sessions we provide during our two-week rotations. Medical students can explore topics such as: “How to apply The Word to your faith, your work and your calling” and “How to bring Jesus into the exam or hospital room.”
Just as clinical experience facilitates the transition between student and professional, by bringing Jesus into the hospital room, we transition from medical provider to ministers of the Gospel – serving as loving conduits between a compassionate God and our suffering patients.
Life Application
They say that a good learning experience for a student means “we are helping you understand something you couldn't before.” In what ways has this story helped you to gain understanding about your journey into the medical profession as a Christian?
It has been said that a great learning experience “focuses on being effective first. If it is not effective, then it fails at being a learning experience.” What “effect” are we looking for in medical education?
Do you agree or disagree with this statement on effectiveness, regarding its spiritual application in the medical setting? Why or why not?