Throughout my life as a doctor, I have been touched by many things, but what moved me the most was the rigorous medical ethics of Xiangya people.

Professor Ke Mingqing (first from left) and other medical staff were conducting scientific research

Observation saved middle school teacher's life

　　In 1967, the Cultural Revolution was going on vigorously throughout the country. This summer, a critically ill patient was transferred to our hospital. He was a political teacher at Changsha No. 8 Middle School and committed suicide by taking medicine. He was rescued in Changsha No. 2 Municipal Hospital for seven days, but he was still unconscious. He was treated in the Department of Neurology of our hospital for three days but did not improve. This kind of situation is rare, the hospital organizes a joint consultation, and I, as a pharmacist, also participate in the consultation. At the meeting, the attending physician introduced the condition, and everyone discussed the treatment plan intensely. Although the discussion was heated, because it was not clear what drug the patient was taking to commit suicide, no consensus was reached, so the treatment could only be continued.

　　The next morning, I was still worried about this comatose suicide patient. I thought to myself, political teachers usually have a firm will, so how could they commit suicide so easily? I decided to go to the ward after get off work to see the situation. When I entered the ward, I saw a white "rice" grain hanging from the corner of his mouth. I thought someone had fed him, and I was very happy. Unexpectedly, the nurse said that the patient had vomited early this morning, and the strange white "rice grains" might be the medicine from the patient's nausea. I hurriedly took a closer look, where is the rice grain? It was obviously a fragment of the medicine. I hurriedly took the "rice grain" fragment and ran back to the analysis room for testing. It was found that the white "rice grains" had the same chemical reaction as the nervous system drug flufeperazine, and I was sure that the patient was poisoned by taking this drug. I promptly reported the situation to the hospital and the treating doctor, and took symptomatic treatment for the patient. After a few hours, the patient really improved.

　　On the third day of work, I called the nurse immediately to inquire about the patient's condition. The nurse said excitedly, "I'm awake, I'm awake!" The tension in my heart that had been tensed for several days was finally relaxed. As a doctor, one of my favorite words in the fight against death is "waking up". The phrase "waking up" declares the patient's joy of regaining a new life, and it can also make us forget the exhaustion in the rescue process. Here I should thank the nurse. It was inspired by her that I shifted my consideration to the white drug from the perspective of the "rice grains" at the corner of my mouth, so as to find the key method to rescue drug poisoning.

Asking for advice with an open mind to study the dry ice removal method

　　In the 1970s, the state advocated technological innovation, and various hospitals created many new methods of treating diseases. Dr. Wang Chengye from the Department of Ophthalmology also wanted to learn from foreign experience and create a rapid cataract removal method with dry ice freezing. He explained the operation principle to me and hoped that I could cooperate with him in making carbon dioxide dry ice.

　　Since I don't know much about dry ice manufacturing, I have mastered the basic principles by consulting relevant information. After understanding and remembering that the temperature of dry ice is lower than minus 75°C, the skin is prone to frostbite when touched; it should be operated in a ventilated environment to prevent people from being suffocated by carbon dioxide; the dry ice container must have ventilation holes to prevent explosions when heated, and other precautions. Full of confidence, I went to the Hunan Pharmaceutical Factory to borrow a carbon dioxide cylinder, moved the cylinder upright to the outside as required, put on thick cotton gloves meticulously, and slowly released the gas valve. But the accident still happened. There was a loud bang, and I felt cold on my head, staring at my eyes. The first reaction in my heart was that I was injured. I hastily touched my head with my hand, but it felt wet and cool. After a few seconds, my eyes could be opened, and I saw that there was no blood on my hands. Only then did my tense heartstrings relax. After taking a closer look, I realized that the barometer on the cylinder had exploded, but it didn't blow me up. It was a blessing in misfortune.

　　How can there be problems in following the procedure? With doubts, I went to consult the master of Hunan Pharmaceutical Factory. He told me that the cylinder should lie flat before opening the valve. Opening the valve in an upright cylinder will easily cause dry ice to block the barometer, causing the barometer to cool rapidly and explode. It turns out that a job that seems not too difficult, but often because of ignoring the details, eventually leads to failure.

　　On the third day, I bought a barometer, installed it on the carbon dioxide cylinder, and finally successfully produced white dry ice. I put dry ice into a sterile cataract remover and delivered it to Dr. Wang as quickly as possible. He was very happy to ask me to stay and observe the operation process. In less than 30 minutes, a piece of cataract lens was completely removed. After the operation, Dr. Wang checked the effect of the operation immediately, and gestured "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" with his fingers for the patient to identify, and all the answers were correct. At this time, all the staff beside the operating table were happy for the success of the new operation method, and even more happy for the patient's eyesight recovery. My eyes glowed golden the day before yesterday, in exchange for the patient's seeing again today, it is worth it.

　　Nowadays, dry ice freezing cataract surgery has been popular in China, and the surgery has been further improved. The new method of cataract extraction with dry ice + crystals has made thousands of patients embark on the road of light.

Demonstrate the quality of medical ethics by trying medicine

　　Much of the work of pharmacists is to cooperate with doctors. Therefore, others may not understand some of the work of doctors, but we are very clear. To this day, I still remember the touching story of Dr. Wu Hanwen who tried the medicine himself.

　　The story happened after the poisoning of workers in the Shuikoushan lead-zinc mine in Hunan. After receiving the emergency rescue instruction from the superior, the hospital arranged for physician Wu Hanwen to lead a team to rescue the poisoned workers. At that time, there was no antidote for lead poisoning in China. After receiving the task, Dr. Wu hurriedly consulted the information, trying to figure out the principle of detoxification and prepare the antidote by himself. After reading a lot of literature, he finally found a British drug called EDTA-Na that could relieve lead poisoning, but there was no medicine in China. As a pharmacist, I know that this medicine can be prepared by myself. At the critical moment of human life, I finally prepared this medicine after many experiments according to the requirements of intravenous injection preparations.

　　The antidote has been prepared, but no experiment has been carried out, so I dare not inject it into the patient casually. At that time, the situation was urgent. Dr. Wu took the medicine and hurried to the mining area. Before leaving, he told me not to worry, and he would handle the experiment. Soon, his good news came: "Pharmacist Ke, there is no problem. The drug is very successful, and most of the poisoned workers have been relieved." I asked him: "How can drugs that have not been tested on animals be injected into patients casually?" Dr. Wu just shook his head and smiled without saying a word. Later, I learned from the nurse that he was conducting experiments on himself. Hearing this, I have mixed feelings, moved and blamed myself. What moved me was that a doctor took risks to try the medicine himself in order to ensure the safety of the patient when the patient was in crisis! What I blame myself is that a pharmacist dare not be responsible for the medicine he made, but let the doctor use it to test the antidote on himself.

　　Because the antidote was prepared in time and put into use quickly, the patient's detoxification effect was very satisfactory. After two hours of injection, the patient's abdominal pain and other adverse symptoms were all relieved, and more than a dozen patients with lead poisoning were discharged from the hospital soon after. Perhaps these poisoned workers still don't know how hard the doctors of Xiangya Hospital put in to help them detoxify, and how they risked their lives to try the medicine.

　　These little stories shine with the spirit of Xiangya people who sacrifice themselves to save others, and describe the "sincerity and love" spirit and lofty professionalism of Xiangya people. This is the fine tradition and noble medical ethics of Xiangya Hospital passed down from generation to generation.