Empathy

"... for a 41 year old male patient with an infected wound on the leg, with maggots. You're on case 34851 at 1645; and your code is 2"

Reubs shoots me a look.

***

"How long have you been using it for?" I asked

"17, maybe 18 years" he replies, his speech slurred and eyes drooped.

"How much?"

" 'Bout 100 to 200 mL.... every day... Just from the street, where I can". He pauses. "But sometimes it's not easy to get, [so] I use Benzios at times"

"Using a needle I guess?"

"Yeah..." Another long pause. "I've got two sons... I don't want them to end up like this"

"Have you tried Methadone?"

"Yeah...." A pause. "I've tried them all, but they give up on me." Another pause. "The services don't want to know me."

***

I really felt sorry for the bloke, but I had a lot of time for him. Yes, his wound occurred 2 weeks ago, but he only noticed it yesterday and by then it was infected with maggots. I have empathy for him - it may have been difficult to notice if you're constantly high. He did try to clean and bandage it up. He also knows the damage the addiction has on him, and has tried to stop - for the sake of his sons. How seriously, I don't know; but if a service has given up on him, then I think it's sad. Perhaps he's just leading me on and I brought it, hook, line and sinker. Even if so, I don't really care - if he wants our services, then I'm happy to provide. I think it'll be a sad day if even an ambulance turns our backs on people in need?

Your thoughts?