Patient's relatives

The most dreaded task to do in a night call is to "Update family members".
This sucks big time if the patient is not mine.. Then i'll have to flip the notes to see what the relatives might ask me.. whether i must be extra careful in answering.. A 临时抱佛脚 that's forced down my throat.

There are several kinds of relatives though..

1) The want-to-know-everything-want-everything-to-be-done-but-dun-want-to-do-anything-kind
This is an extreme case. They seldom visit the patient. They question you on every single issue they can think of and they complain about the slightest thing. They don't allow the patient the chance to speak for himself. But come the time they are told an operation is needed and consent needs to be signed, they will say "oh he can sign himself la..." Grrr...

2) The want-to-know-everything-want-everything-to-be-done-but-do-many-things-for-patient kind
This is the kind you'll prefer not to speak to because they are inquisitive but you'll willingly do everything you can for them because what they do for the patient is enough to make you go on your knees and bow to them out of respect. Example: an old couple with a bedridden and slightly irrational husband who needs constant care and will sometimes scold his wife out of his irrationality. Wife already out of work, dependent on pension. Cares full time for husband, enduring his insensible scolding. Has degenerative spine causing her pain when caring for her husband but she still goes on. How not to respect?

3) The angels
This is the other extreme where one will see the relatives around all the time, caring for the patient and ask minimal questions and accepts whatever you say. Just a 1-2 liner of update and they appreciate it.

Of course there are more variations. But i must say i have a lot to learn from many of the relatives that care for their sick ones..