Calling Time on a Friend’s Father

I pronounced my best friend's dad dead at 2 AM. I was the resident on call when they

rushed him in, full cardiac arrest. I started compressions immediately, pushed every drug

in the book. Forty minutes in, my attending pulled me aside. Time to call it.

But I kept going. Five more minutes. Then ten. The nurses were exhausted,

looking at me like I'd lost it. My attending finally grabbed my shoulder. He's gone.

I looked down at my best friend's father, his chest bruised from my compressions,

and I knew I'd crossed a line. I called it at 2:47 AM. Then I had to walk

to the waiting room and tell my best friend I did everything I could. He hugged me.