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3rd October 2018 at 12:20 pm #56366
Hi all, I have just one scene left to write and then my manuscript is complete pending editing.
The problem I have is this: the scene is an end of life scene in a UK intensive care unit, and I need specific info on how life support is withdrawn. I can’t believe it, but I’ve drawn a blank with my own contacts, no-one knows an ICU doctor!
Can anyone out there put me in touch with someone? Yours most hopefully!
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5th October 2018 at 11:29 am #57843
I can’t help, but I killed off one of my characters in an ICU and in the end I Googled like mad and just made it up. Sounds glib, but enough Google research should give you sufficient to write something plausible. The odd ICU doctor might read it and huff and puff a bit, but I do question whether you need as much specific information as you think.
Unless of course you are writing something like a crime thriller which hinges precisely on the ICU situation, in which case I can see you might very well need specifics to make the whole thing work.
Good luck.
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21st October 2018 at 3:58 pm #62089
Emma, I agree with Bella about googling and making some of it up unless you’re writing crime and need more detail.
On the other hand, you could write a polite letter to your local hospital and say that you’re a new novelist and would very much like 10 minutes of someone’s time to inform you about the specifics in order to not misrepresent doctors and current medical practice through ignorance. Say you’ll mention the hospital in your acknolwledgements and maybe make a small donation to the medical charity of their choice. And tell them that you don’t need the name of patients, so you wouldn’t cause the families any grief.I hope that helps.
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7th November 2018 at 12:51 pm #63702
Hi Emma,
Are you in the UK? These NICE guidelines may be helpful. I’m a medic by training, though no longer working as one. Not experienced in ITU care, but I do know a lot of the jargon. Let me know if there’s anything you don’t understand, and I’ll do my best to help. -
7th November 2018 at 12:51 pm #63703
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7th November 2018 at 2:42 pm #63726
Hi Sophie,
Thanks so much for the link – I’m going to take a look now.
Good news though…a friend of a friend recently put me in touch with an ICU consultant who read through my scene then called me with things I needed to change. My goodness, they do a hard job. Being able to speak to him was absolutely invaluable, and changed the speed of events quite dramatically. It just goes to show how key research is.
Thank you so very much for offering to help me – that’s really kind!
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