See the Heartbreaking Photo of a Doctor Reacting to Losing a 19-Year Old Patient

21 Mar, 2015 by Rachel Alexander

Print this article Font size -16+

We tend to think doctors are fairly unemotional, able to cope with life and death a lot better than the rest of us, because they have to experience tragic situations in their day-to-day work. This photo, which went viral, shows us the other side of doctors that we rarely get to see, the raw emotion that comes out in a terribly sad situation.

The Daily Mail reports,

The image was posted to a website by a friend and colleague of the doctor who explained that a 19-year-old he was trying to save passed away.

The poster, who works in California, said: ‘Though this is a common occurrence in our field of work, the patients we lose are typically old, sick, or some combination of the two. The patient that died was 19 years old, and for him, it was one of those calls we get sometimes that just hits you.’

The picture was first published on Reddit and has led to thousands of comments from touched users.

One, ‘J-Hof’, wrote that the image ‘really hit home’ as it reminded him of the shock felt by ER medics after they failed to save his father’s life.

The post read: ‘When he died the doctors who were working on him at the UCSD medical center were crushed. I could definitely see it in their eyes. They called my house multiple times throughout the year to see how my family was doing. Doctors do not get the praise they deserve.’

Reddit user Facetus, a medic, wrote: ‘I know exactly how the doc in the picture feels. Despite the picture showing such a dark moment it actually makes me feel happier about my career choice. I think it is the sense of connection with the unknown doc in the pic and the comments and reaction of Reddit community that makes me feel: what we do matters.’

Another user, livinbandit, said: ‘My dad is an ER doctor. I remember the times he would come home and cry in my mother’s arms because there was someone that he couldn’t save no matter how hard he tried.’

Doctors may be successful, but they pay a price. They are never going to be able to save everyone, and most people come to them because they’re sick, not healthy. It’s a losing battle. Thankfully, there are many kind people around the world who are willing to go into this profession anyway.

Rachel Alexander

Rachel Alexander is the editor of Intellectual Conservative. She is a senior editor at The Stream, and is a regular contributor to Townhall, the Selous Foundation for Public Policy Research, and The Christian Post, and provides weekend news items for Right Wing News. She frequently appears on TV and news radio as a conservative commentator. She is a recovering attorney and former gun magazine editor. She previously served as a former Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona, corporate attorney for Go Daddy Software, and Special Assistant/Deputy County Attorney for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. As co-president of the UW Political Science Honor Society, she obtained degrees in Political Science and History from the University of Washington, followed by a law degree from Boston College and the University of Arizona. She was ranked by Right Wing News as one of the 50 Best Conservative Columnists from 2011-2017.