Danielle Ofri

Mrs. Rodriguez was this tiny wrinkled Dominican woman with layers and layers of family at the bedside.

So I walk and say, hi, I'm one of the night docs.

I'm not her regular doctor, but I'm just here to do the rectal.

And I'm thinking, Dr. Ofri, rectal specialist.

And so the grandson steps forward, he says, well,

We understand what you have to do, doctor.

I'm actually a nurse.

And if you don't mind, I want to stay with Abuelita while you do the exam.

stay while I do this?

And I'm thinking, what is the protocol for this situation?

I've been a doctor now for two whole weeks, and I have no idea what to do when the family wants to stay.

But I say, OK, we know, whatever.

So the rest of the family goes out to the hallway.

We pull the curtain for some privacy from the other three patients.

The grandson and I roll Mrs. Rodriguez onto her left side, and I start disgorging my pockets, the gloves, the lubrication fluid, the test cards.

And then I realize I'm missing the bottle of developer fluid.

So I say to the grandson, can you just hold on for one second?

I need to get one more thing.

So I dash out of the room and I avoid the gaze of the family members there.

And I run to the supply closet and start rifling through the shelves and the bins.