Doctors, Nurses, And EMTs, Tell Us Your Most Unhinged Patient Stories
A lot of things happen in hospitals — some heartbreaking, some heartwarming. But every so often, a patient comes in and says or does something so bizarre, so wildly unfiltered, you just have to laugh.
So, if you're a doctor, nurse, EMT, or medical professional, tell us: What's the most absurd, hilarious, or straight-up unhinged thing you've witnessed on the job?
Related: Choose Between These Cakes And I'll Guess Which Season You Were Born In!
Perhaps you had a woman come into the ER with a full-body rash. Interestingly, her skin was also covered in...sparkles. She was absolutely convinced she was having a rare, life-threatening allergic reaction. Turns out she had lathered herself in glitter body lotion from 2002.
Related: I Am VERY Confident That I Can Guess Your Relationship Status Based On Your Favorite Songs From The Early 2000s
Maybe you had a middle-aged guy who was in the hospital long-term after a serious accident. He needed multiple surgeries and a long road of rehab. The problem was, his surgeries kept having to be rescheduled MULTIPLE times because he could not for the life of him follow the instructions of fasting the night before. One morning, around 6 a.m., right before anesthesia, you noticed he looked...suspicious. Turns out, he had a half-eaten slice of pizza hidden in his hospital bed "for emergencies." When you asked what kind of emergency, he said, "Hunger, obviously."
Or, perhaps, you were taking care of a 5-year-old boy who needed to get shots in his arm, but he wouldn't sit still, so you requested his mom to help hold him. While you were both holding him, he kept yelling, "Help!" "Help!" and then he escalated, screaming at the top of his lungs, "HELPPPP! POLICE! POLICE!" A police officer was actually on the floor for an unrelated reason, and you had to calmly explain to him it was not a hostage situation but a simple vaccination.
So, if you've had a memorable patient experience ranging from hilarious to unhinged, please do share. You can let us know in the comments or at this anonymous form.
Also in Community: I'm Sorry, But Every American Should Be Able To Pass This Basic-Level US States Quiz
Also in Community: Your Taste Buds Will Totally Expose What Personality Type You Have
Also in Community: Make A Disney Playlist And We'll Guess Your True Age
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Newsom Signs Budget That Includes Health Care Cuts for Undocumented Immigrants
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a California budget on Friday that relied on scaling back health care for undocumented immigrants, even as he and other California Democrats in recent weeks have condemned the Trump administration for cracking down on immigrant workers. In signing the budget, Mr. Newsom backtracked on his earlier pledge to insure all low-income residents, regardless of their immigration status. But it came as the state faced a $12 billion deficit, driven in part by a large cost overrun in the state's insurance plan for undocumented immigrants, and it would have been politically difficult to cut programs for citizens without reducing benefits for undocumented immigrants. When Mr. Newsom initially proposed the cuts in May, it was seen as a centrist pivot for a governor who is a potential presidential candidate in 2028. But after President Trump sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles nearly three weeks ago to thwart protesters, Mr. Newsom returned to his role as a liberal antagonist of the Republican administration and accused Mr. Trump of endangering American democracy. The California budget for the fiscal year that starts Tuesday relies on prohibiting new enrollment of undocumented immigrants in the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, starting in January. Adults between the ages of 19 and 59 who were already enrolled will have to pay a new $30 monthly premium beginning in 2027. And the state will eliminate dental care in July 2026 for undocumented adults and other noncitizens. Medi-Cal serves roughly 15 million people, including 1.6 million undocumented immigrants. Because the federal government does not pay for most health care for undocumented immigrants, it costs California more to insure noncitizens than it does to cover citizens. Democrats have argued that the state has a moral responsibility to provide health care to its immigrant work force, and they have said that preventative treatment can avert more costly emergency care down the road. Democrats who control the State Capitol cast their decisions on Friday as a necessary move to help close the budget deficit and said it was not an ideological shift away from supporting immigrants. Some choked back tears in emotional floor speeches about their undocumented family members as they voted for cuts to Medi-Cal. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
Should You Be Concerned about White Stool After Diarrhea?
While white stools can result from certain over-the-counter medications, they can also be a symptom of a more serious condition. The color of your stool can tell a lot about your health, so any time you see a different color in the toilet bowl, it's natural to wonder why. If you've recently had a bout of diarrhea, you may have pale or white-colored stool. These light-colored stools can be the result of various factors, so it's important to note your symptoms and get a diagnosis from a doctor. Keep reading to learn about the more serious causes of white stool, including symptoms and treatments. Antidiarrheal drugs If you've been taking large doses of certain antidiarrheal drugs, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate), this could result in very light stools. Your stool color should return to brown after you stop taking the medication, so you don't have to do anything. However, if you continue to have white poop after a few days, you may need to consult a doctor. Blocked bile duct A lack of bile can often cause white stool or stool with a claylike consistency, which can indicate a more serious problem. What is bile? Bile is a digestive fluid. Your liver produces it, and it's stored in your gallbladder. During the digestive process, bile is excreted into your small intestine to break down fats into fatty acids. Among other important functions, bile helps eliminate cholesterol and waste products, such as bilirubin. Bile also gives your stool its typical brownish color. A lack of bile in your stool is often the result of a blockage in the bile duct, which is a tube that delivers the bile to the small intestine. A number of conditions can cause a blockage, including: Symptoms of bile duct obstruction Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as: jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, or both) abdominal pain (upper right side) nausea vomiting fever dark urine Treatment for a blocked bile duct Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the underlying cause. For example, for gallstones, your doctor might suggest a cholecystectomy, which involves surgery to remove the gallbladder. For liver flukes, your doctor may prescribe albendazole or praziquantel. Liver disease White stool can sometimes be a symptom of liver disease. There are many causes for liver disease, including: infection, such as: hepatitis A hepatitis B hepatitis C cancer (and other growths), such as: liver cancer bile duct cancer liver adenoma genetic conditions, such as: alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (a condition where the body doesn't produce enough of the AAD protein) hemochromatosis hyperoxaluria and oxalosis (when oxalate build ups in urine, blood vessels, bones and organs) Wilson's disease immune system abnormality, such as: autoimmune hepatitis primary biliary cirrhosis primary sclerosing cholangitis (a rare liver disease that affects the bile ducts) other conditions, such as: chronic, heavy alcohol use nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Symptoms of liver disease Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as: jaundice abdominal swelling and pain chronic fatigue nausea vomiting swelling in the ankles and legs dark urine bruising skin itchiness loss of appetite Treatment for liver disease Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the specific diagnosis. While some liver problems require medication or surgery, many can be addressed with lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a moderate weight or stopping alcohol use. In all cases, treatment for liver disease should include careful monitoring of your liver function. Liver disease that leads to liver failure may ultimately require a liver transplant.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Corrections: June 28, 2025
An article on Friday about the impact that Republican efforts to reduce federal funding flowing to schools has had on Johns Hopkins University misstated the source of a Trump administration plan to cut about 40 percent of the budget for the National Institutes of Health. It is contained in a budget proposal, not in the Trump policy bill under consideration in Congress. An article on Thursday about U.S. rivals celebrating the Trump administration's decision to cut its support for Voice of America and Radio Free stations referred incompletely to the number of followers on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Instagram accounts. It has 44,500 followers on its English-language account and a total of 17.4 million followers across the network's various language services. It does not have a total of 44,500 followers. An article this weekend on Page 12 about the Brazilian artist Luana Vitra includes outdated information. Hélio Menezes is no longer the director of the Museu Afro Brasil in São Paulo. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, please email nytnews@ To share feedback, please visit Comments on opinion articles may be emailed to letters@ For newspaper delivery questions: 1-800-NYTIMES (1-800-698-4637) or email customercare@
