Always ask about the door.

As you’re leaving your patient’s room, always ask if they’d like the door opened or closed. Yesterday I discussed Marge Piercy’s poem “Doors opening, closing on us” with members of my palliative care section. It was a wonderfully insightful hour of reflection.

I was reminded of how scary an open hospital door may seem, not knowing who will walk in and when, not knowing if they’ll carry good news or bad. There’s very little comfort, and almost no control, in a hospital room door.

Always ask about the door on your way out. Deciding to close the door may be the one bit of control, and comfort, your patient squeezes out of that day. And deciding to keep it open may be a much needed reminder of what lies beyond that door.