Memoirs of a Nigerian Medical Student (MNMS): Religious beliefs vs Medicine

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After a full week off school, I resumed today with the Consultant wardround...which made me realize how much I missed hospital drama.
Now to get to the point, during the consultant wardround, we had an interesting standoff with a mother of an infant suffering from tissue sarcoma. The problem there is the religious belief of the mother.
While Prof has drawn out the treatment plan for the baby, treatment has not been commenced because of the mother, who has bluntly refused blood transfusion for her child. Prof spent almost an hour trying to persuade her, he answered all her questions, but still she refused...while I stand behind soaking it all get, trying to update myself on what is going on, I happened to learn that the ongoing discussion between the mother and Prof had actually occurred two weeks ago and Prof had gotten her husband to agree but she still refused. Other parents even came to testify that they have tried talking to her.
Right now, Prof is drafting a letter to the hospital lawyer in order to receive permission to go ahead with the treatment with blood transfusion.
...i love med school...

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