Calling Time Too Soon

I watched my attending pronounce a patient dead who was still breathing. Everyone saw it.

The monitor showed a heartbeat. Faint but there. He called time of death anyway.

I froze. The nurses exchanged glances but said nothing. My co-intern grabbed

my arm and whispered not now. Later in the break room the rumors started.

He's burned out. He's been making mistakes for weeks. Administration knows but he brings in

too much money. I couldn't sleep that night. That patient had family waiting outside.

I had two choices. Report him and destroy my career before it starts. Or stay silent and

become exactly what I feared. Which would you choose.