The Fall
The major revelation in Albert Camus' The Fall occurs when the rambling narrator reveals that he witnessed a woman committing suicide by jumping off a bridge and that he did nothing to save her. As callous as that may seem (and it was probably pretty shocking at the time it was written), it almost seems quaint compared to the death of Kitty Genovese or this more recent fall. Ah humanity!
posted by BayonneMike at 3:47 PM
6 Comments:
This is so strange. I was actually thinking about her this morning, for at least 10 minutes, while scrubbing my shower and bathroom floor, Mike. Seriously. I have not thought about Kitty G since high school. In fact I was picking my brain trying to remember her name. I think the news was on in the background at the time, maybe something in the news triggered the thought. Anyway, I was thinking about how I would have responded had I heard her screams. 911 was not an option at the time, and wouldn't have worked to save her life. I was thinking that we hold those people responsible in a way, condemn them for not intervening, when seriously I think most people would react in fear, first considering the risk, and only a fearless hero with a gun would actually run out there.
I was driving with Mark over the Coronado Bridge in San Diego when I saw a man standing at the top leaning against the side looking over. OMG. he's gonna jump I was thinking and expected Mark to pull over. When he didn't I freaked out and begged him to stop. He just said NO and then clammed up and kept driving.I was in tears, feeling guilty, and then angry. He just said that it wasn't safe and he had no idea if the man would try to hurt us and that we were not professionals. I couldn't understand at the time. He said all we could do was pray for the man so we did. I don't know if he jumped.
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OK, one more comment on the woman in the ER:
Initially, after moving to NYC, I was shocked to see people in dire straights, ER-worthy by my standards, lying unconscious on the sidewalks. Sleeping? Who knows? I would approach and try to ascertain if they were breathing or in need of medical attention. I was quickly oriented to the plight of the homeless and advised not to give them any money. It wasn't long before I became like everyone else, conditioned to ignore them. Without an assessment, how can you tell if a person isn't dying? you can't. Just move along.
The same conditioning happens in an ER where staff is short handed and burnt out. Caregivers can lose sensitivity, and draw conclusions without taking the time to assess the situation and intervene.Here is a woman, in a hospital gown, leaning over and eventually toppling to the floor.
Dying. The lack of immeditate intervention reflects that dullness and apathy associate with preconceived notions about the patient. Most are probably thinking 'indigent, possibly drunk, sleeping', at least somewhere in the process of getting 'care'. Not like...that's so and so's mother.
When I had the rare occasion to work the ER, I discovered that there were certain patients referred to as GOMERS- 'Get out of my emergency room'. These were the 'frequent flyers', repeat offenders, usually drunks or chronically ill folks, well known to the ER. Non compliant types. Irritating thorns draining the energy and patience of the staff.
I don't care. From now on I'm not stepping over any more bodies at work or on the street. I'm sending my GOMERS right out to the ER.
Gee, that Mark was a calloused bastard.
Well I prefer to think of him as cautious and protective.
"When your parents come out here for a visit, they're staying at a hotel."
Funny how I remembered that one. It's usually very difficult for me to remember the digs. Isn't that right, Mike?
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