Dylan Wentzel, M3, Class of 2025
It was an ordinary day on the Benign Gynecologic Surgery service, filled with routine cases and hurried movements. I had just finished assisting with the usual procedures when I glanced over my schedule and sensed that the upcoming case, a dilation and evacuation, was far from ordinary. This case was different—it carried a weight that set it apart.
The procedure involved a young couple who had recently suffered the devastating loss of their first child. As I met them, grief clung to the air. The wife, still immersed in sadness, was led to the operative area with tears streaming down her face. Stepping into the operating room, a palpable shift in atmosphere enveloped us; everyone acknowledged the profound significance of what we were about to undertake.
As the D&E progressed, we faced the solemn task of removing fetal parts from the uterus. It felt surreal, as if we were handling the fragments of a future that would never be realized. Sorting through the remnants of a life left me questioning the essence of this medical intervention—it didn’t align with my perception of medicine.
As the procedure neared its end, the attending physician seemed to grasp the internal struggle I, and perhaps any medical student, was experiencing. She took a moment to pull me aside and shared a perspective that resonated deeply: performing this challenging procedure was a means to spare the patient from the anguish of going through labor to deliver a nonviable child. She conveyed, “We bear this burden so our patients don’t have to.” In that moment, the realization struck me that this encapsulated the essence of medicine—an intricate balance of confronting hardships to help shield patients from unbearable realities.
While medicine encompasses incredible aspects, it also introduces challenges that test our resolve. There will be difficult days, but our duty is to bear burdens so our patients can navigate their struggles with as much ease as possible. The arduous moments serve a purpose—to make other lives a little better.
After the procedure, we approached the husband to reassure him. Witnessing the attending physician comforting him, she handed over a small piece of paper bearing the footprints of their lost child. It was a poignant reminder of the honor and responsibility physicians carry, being present in patients’ lowest moments. I walked away with a profound understanding of our duty—to share the weight of these moments with respect and reverence, embracing the privilege of standing alongside our patients during their most challenging times.
Med Intima 