A Corner of Control

Abstract

“A Corner of Control” is a story about “Sarah” (pseudonym), a young woman identifying as Black American who was urgently referred from a routine prenatal visit to the labor and delivery antepartum triage unit for decreased fetal movement and was told by the inpatient obstetrics resident/attending team that she needed to be admitted for induction of labor. Feeling backed into a corner, she decided she wanted to leave against medical advice. I, the medical student, was responsible for mediating between the 2 parties, navigating my position at the bottom of the team’s hierarchy with my duty to listen and provide the best care to my patient. The story ventures into our fear and compulsion in carving a corner of control by implementing treatment courses that could significantly impact not only my medical career and the hospital’s reputation, but most importantly, Sarah and her baby’s life.