When your patients tell you....

I have learned that when your patients tell you they are going to die, it's generally a good idea to listen to them, especially when it is accompanied by a complaint of chest pain or breathing problems or some other such issue.

The last patient that told me that proceeded to code as we lifted the cot up about 2 minutes later.

My partner are I were able to obtain ROSC within a few minutes and delivered her to the ED blinking her eyes and indicating that she wanted the ETT removed from her trachea. She ultimately passed away a few days later due to severe cardiac ischemia, but we at least helped to buy her and her family some time to make arrangements and say goodbye.

So when your patients tell you they think that they are going to die, they probably are right (as long as they aren't in labor or strung out on crack or having a huge fight with their SO).