The Last Ventilator Swap

I switched the patient charts. Two of them. ICU beds right next to each other.

One was the chief's daughter, the other was a homeless man. Both needed the

last ventilator. My attending pointed at the chief's daughter without hesitation. But I'd seen her

tox screen. Cocaine overdose. The homeless man had pneumonia, working three jobs

to support his kids. My hand shook as I swapped their names on the system. The ventilator went

to him. She died an hour later. My attending knows something's wrong.

The chief is demanding an investigation. I can taste metal every time I swallow. Did I play God or

just level the playing field?