video record
Media not available in the Digital Archive
Description
This film attempts to capture the realities of day by day life in hospital wards. In particular, it examines a ward round made "by a consultant surgeon and his "firm" in a large metr...opolitan hospital. We also see and hear doctors discussing their ideologies relating to illness, dying, and so on, and the ways in which they talk to patients, nurses, and to other doctors.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: E262, Language and learning
Item code: E262; 02
First transmission date: 24-02-1973
Published: 1973
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:23:35
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Producer: Gwynn Pritchard
Contributor: Geoff Esland
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Consultant surgeon; Day-to-day routines; Doctors; Hospital life; Metropolitan hospital; Middlesex Hospital; Southmead Hospital; Ward-round
Footage description: Shot of a nurse standing by an unconscious patient on a trolley. A discussion takes place about the use of professional jargon and about the ethics of telling patients, about what ailments they suffer from. Doctor talking about cancer patients and the difficulties of disclosing to them the seriousness of their ailments. Patient is seen being wheeled on a trolley into a recovery room. Mention is made of the reason why abbreviations and Obscure terminology are used rather than the everyday words which the patient will recognise. Woman doctor on the dilemma of telling patients untruths which conflict with her code of behaviour. Other members of the consultants panel of medical staff are shown discussing each patient's progress and deciding upon a policy of treatment. The problem of how to conceal the true nature of a patients' illness is discussed and a defence is made for the kind of policy adapted by the consultant. Shot of a. ward round being made. The consultant surgeon examines patients in the ward and discusses their progress with his team. The consultant then explains the importance of ward rounds and the team going round as they do. Much conferring takes place between one patient and the next. The consultant explains to junior staff in the team the reasons for developments that occur in patients and gives orders using professional jargon about what future treatment is required. The consultant heads the show always and he alone questions patients. He is also briefed about patients' progress and carries out an examination of one of the patients. The consultant then defends the technique of dropped voices etc. adopted in ward rounds the 'two sorts of conversation'. The ward round continues as in the previous sequence. The conversation which alternates between patient and consultant and between medical team and consultant continues. Role of the medical team shown to be more than just one of doctoring. A patient now medically fit and a bachelor is asked to stay over Christmas if he has no one to help at home. In other cases the consultant sometimes asks for further briefing on patients. Geoff Esland points out the necessity of an objective clinical analysis from a doctor for the purpose of diagnosis, but also reveals the dilemma that professional jargon poses for the doctors' private experience in exercising his duties in clinical practice. Another consultant explains how he can detach himself from the patients he treats and thus becoming less shocked in the event of their death but, at the same time, be objective about diagnosis for their cure. His emotional reaction to his mother's contracting cancer and her eventual death, however, contrasts with his emotional response to other patients.
Master spool number: 6HT/70927
Production number: 00525_6002
Videofinder number: 829
Available to public: no