Possession

With intern year comes an interesting phenomenon: ownership of my patients. My patients identify me as their primary doctor, and I get attached to them. All the medical decisions that happen to my patients ought to go through me, and although much of the time, their plan of care is dictated by my resident or attending, I am the one who does the grunt work making it happen. As a result, interns become very protective of our patients. It is a wonderful and fulfilling role to play, and one that justifies the ridiculous hours we work.