Being a bystander is so frustrating for me.
I am waiting in the checkout line at Safeway. I see a middleaged white woman walking towards me with an 8ish black girl by her side. They get into line behind me. The girl starts to complain and cry about the juice carton being too heavy. I look at the magazines, trying not to be awkward and stare. And then the woman kicks the girl in the shin.
Instantly I'm on alert. The girl starts to cry more. The woman laughs at her and taunts her tears. "Cry a little harder and those tears just might mean something." The girl asks, "Why are you being so mean today Mom?" and struggles to hold the juice carton.
First I feel awkward. Then shocked. Slowly but surely, I'm furious!
I don't know the background, the circumstances. But there is no situation that deserves this kind of treatment. The future ramifications for such treatment are huge! I want to say something, anything, to either the woman or the child. But what can I possibly say that will make any significant difference?
Finally, I clear some space on the conveyor belt and offer it to them to set their groceries down.
I'm sure I will encounter this sort of situation again. I need a better plan of action for the next time.
wowwwwwwwww thats so sad.
ReplyDeleteI feel it is an ordained responsibility to a doctor to take care of the well-bring (qality of life) of the community he is in.
ReplyDeleteIn this circumstance, most people will have similar emotion disturbance as you; but will do nothing. You have provided your help at the moment to ease the situation. That is a proactive attitude. On the precauciously preventive side, you might want to report the incidance to a social worker.
Those are just my opinions. Do they teach crisis management in Med school? what should a doctor do when he suspects his patient been abused at home? There might be some legally abide requirement for the health care professions. You can check with one of your teachers what is the standard operation procedure for this kind of events.
You are a very cool guy. I always enjoy reading your new posts.
If I can write a book about today's neglected or abused children I will use "Why are you being so mean today mom?" as my title. It is so embarrassed and ashamed to receive this kind of question from a child.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this story with us.