One time I said hello and introduced myself to an intubated, unconscious patient in the ICU. Someone else scoffed/giggled. I then proceeded to explain to the patient every step of the procedure we did. No regrets.

Wow I’m so grateful for all the people here sharing stories of being intubated, being unconscious, or in a coma and still having some sense of their care & interactions w ppl. Powerful reminder. Patients are ALWAYS people first.

Love all your DMs w personal stories. The ICU (& the hospital in general) can be a heartbreaking & dehumanizing place. While this one person didn’t do so, I have worked w many great docs who prioritize empathy. I hope we can all work toward a more humanizing model of healthcare.