Humor Quote by John Irving
““Ronkers was getting out of the elevator on the first floor when the intercom paged 'Dr Heart'. There was no Dr Heart at University Hospital. 'Dr Heart' meant someone's heart had stopped. 'Dr Heart?' the intercom asked sweetly. 'Please come to 304 . . .' Any doctor in the hospital was supposed to hurry to that room. There was an unwritten rule that you looked around and made a slow move to the nearest elevator, hoping another doctor would beat you to the patient. Ronkers hesitated, letting the elevator door close. He pushed the button again, but the elevator was already moving up. 'Dr Heart, room 304,' the intercom said calmly. It was better than urgently crying, 'A doctor! Any doctor to room 304! Oh my God, hurry!' That might disturb the other patients and the visitors.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The World According to Garp, 1978
Urgency in emergencies can be muted by protocol, causing hesitation and potential tragedy.
In simple terms: Procedures can delay urgent help.
Key Takeaway
Question protocols that hinder swift action.
Themes
urgency
protocol
hesitation
ethics
Mood
thought‑provoking
critical
Type
quote
lesson
When to use this quote
- hospital emergencies
- intercom alerts
- medical response
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
systems thinking
human error
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you bypass rules for safety?
- How do you act when urgency conflicts with procedure?
A Different Perspective
Strict rules may prevent timely aid.
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