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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I don't think I am but I'm willing to be corrected

117 replies

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 15:14

If somebody knocked on your door at 9pm and said that someone was lying injured in the road a few houses down, would you say "sorry, I'm busy, call an ambulance" and close the door?

If you were a qualified doctor, would your answer be any different?

OP posts:

CajaDeLaMemoria · 04/06/2013 15:15

I'd call an ambulance, but I'd be very cautious about letting them in, especially if I was on my own.

As a qualified doctor, I'd lock the house and go and see if I could help, while calling 999 on the way.

Original poster

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 15:16

Should add more detail: if you knew the person knocking at the door and that person was a minor

OP posts:

LaurieFairyCake · 04/06/2013 15:16

I wouldn't let anyone in and I wouldn't move them anyway because of neck injures. I'd call an ambulance and go out and make them comfortable.

If you're a doctor it's entirely your call - if they worsen you could be sued. Most doctors I know would help even if they could be sued.

thebody · 04/06/2013 15:17

I am sorry I wouldn't let you in but either go out with you and lock the door or lock you out and call an ambulance.

SirBoobAlot · 04/06/2013 15:17

I would have called an ambulance, but not left the house as DS would be asleep.

EuroShaggleton · 04/06/2013 15:17

If I knew the person, I would grab my keys and mobile and go with them to see if I could help. If I didn't, I might be more suspicious and call an ambulance from inside my house, after closing the door.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 04/06/2013 15:17

In my area I wouldnt be getting involved.

If I was a Doctor I wouldnt be living in my area ( :o ) so I would lock my house and go out. But I wouldnt invite in.

SirBoobAlot · 04/06/2013 15:18

If I knew the person knocking on the door, and they were a minor, I'd bring them into the house.

LaurieFairyCake · 04/06/2013 15:18

Your further info about knowing them would probably prompt most people to help.

But they're still under no obligation - they could be at home and been drinking and not feel able to help.

reggiebean · 04/06/2013 15:22

I don't understand this question at all. A child that you knew knocked on your door at 9pm (assuming this happened recently, so it's still fairly light out at that time) and asked for help, and you shut the door in his face? If that's the whole story, then yes, YABVU.

There has to be more to it?? Why were you so unwilling to help, or even phone an ambulance yourself?

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/06/2013 15:24

It's very hard if you are a HCP. Damned if you do and all that. I once witnessed an RTA with a friend who is a nurse. She said, "we're going to go and help but don't tell anyone I'm a nurse". She told them after she had established they weren't in critical condition. Thanks go to 'where there's blame, there's a claim'.

Original poster

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 15:59

I'm sorry if I haven't given enough detail - I don't want to give too much though!

Firstly, it wasn't me that refused to help. I can't believe that the person who did, did iyswim?

We live in a nice road on the outskirts of London. This incident happened at the top of my road which is a culdesac. All of the people up there know each other and that's where my friend lives.

Her son is 15 and went into their front garden yesterday evening and saw someone lying in the road. He went straight in to get my friend who went out to see what was happening.

It was a man lying there badly injured. She shouted to her son to get her neighbour who is a Gp.

The neighbour knows my friend well and knows all of my friends sons.

She literally said I'm busy, call an ambulance.

My friend had already called an ambulance and had to ring 4 times before they turned up.

The man was lying in the road shouting help me help me.

I could not believe that this woman refused to help an injured person.

I mentioned it at work today (nhs) and my manager said that the GP should have helped in some way, if even to monitor his vital signs if he deteriorated.

According to the GMC, she has breached chapter 26 of their new guidelines as registered doctors have a duty to assist a person in need in a clinical or community setting.

The whole thing got me thinking. I would have been out like a shot to help in any way I could and I'm disgusted that this Dr refused.

OP posts:

SauvignonBlanche · 04/06/2013 16:02

She might have been busy helping someone else, unless we know what she was doing, it's hard to judge.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 04/06/2013 16:07

Perhaps she had been enjoying a few glasses of wine and felt that attending someone with alcohol on her breath would leave her vulnerable. If not going out there has got someone talking about her breaking rules and possibly thinking about reporting her, would that person or others not go oh my GOD she attended someone when she was DRUNK?! SUE HER SUE HER...

Perhaps she felt that it would take 2 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, with all the equipment needed to help someone and that as a GP and with no equipment whatsoever, she could do nothing to help.

Maybe she also felt that as a GP, she was not as skilled as emergency doctors or paramedics at emergency treatment

Maybe she was afraid it was a scam to get her out of the house and felt vulnerable.

Or maybe she just didn't care.

It's really impossible to know.

I would very concerned about an ambulance that needed calling 4 times. What went wrong there?

CajaDeLaMemoria · 04/06/2013 16:11

Yes, it's hard to guess what she might have been doing but perhaps she didn't fully understand the condition he was in?

I have a paediatric first aid qualification that requires me to help any children in need around me, so it wouldn't surprise me if nurses have similar. But it's difficult because she may have been uncomfortable for reasons we don't know.

Do you know if the man was okay?

ButchCassidy · 04/06/2013 16:11

She may have been helping someone else

She may have been ill

She may have had a family emergency

She may have been drinking

YABU

crashdoll · 04/06/2013 16:12

I think it is wrong to judge, you have no idea what she (the GP) was doing. She might have had a few glasses of wine or be exhausted after a long day or had received devastating news. The possibilities are endless.

Original poster

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 16:16

I know she wasn't drinking due to her religion.

My friend could see how much distress the man was in and she had no idea how to help - she thought it reasonable to ask a Dr to help.

It was yards from the Drs home. She doesn't have small children. Her husband was home.

She would have known it wasn't a scam because she knows the boy who knocked on her door, has done for years.

Some of you have raised points I hadn't considered, so thanks.

OP posts:

TheAccidentalExhibitionist · 04/06/2013 16:17

She could have had several reasons but I could well believe she just couldn't be arsed.

YouTheCat · 04/06/2013 16:19

Even if I had a hundred reasons not to, if I was medically qualified and nearby, I'd help. I think not to goes against the ethos of practising medicine tbh.

Original poster

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 16:19

The accidental - I think that's what it was.

Had she said I'm sorry I can't help but I'll call an ambulance then absolutely fair enough.

I think had she been there she could have chased up the ambulance ir something.

I don't know. It doesn't sit well with me

OP posts:

Original poster

QueenOfCats · 04/06/2013 16:20

Youthecat - exactly.

OP posts:

waikikamookau · 04/06/2013 16:23

but she was at home, if she had been out, on the train, she might have had to offer help. perhaps if she is at home she can't help, legally.

i remember seeing this nurse who refused to help at a rugby match, totally hung back, despite being asked. as she wasn't the first aider. that shocked me, but i bet there is a reason for it.

waikikamookau · 04/06/2013 16:25

and she doesn't have to help does she, she works when she works, she was not on call for the neighbourhood,
perhaps she didn't want to start something.

Futterby · 04/06/2013 16:30

She could be struck off the register. She's obligated to help (don't know if it's by law, but it's certainly in her code of conduct).

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