Reflections on analgesia in emergency departments

Summary

This chapter provides some insights into the book's recommendations for safe and effective practice of pain management in day-to-day emergency department (ED) practice. Pain is a cultural phenomenon as well as a physical one. Certain kinds of patients obtain more attention from their relatives or immediate companions and friends, and seem always to overreact to pain. There appear to be many patients (e.g. some with sickle cell crisis) who prefer meperidine to morphine for pain relief. It is wise to remember the three missions of medicine:to cure disease, to relieve ongoing ravages of disease, and to provide comfort. As an overarching guide, remember that because pain is subjective to the patient, it is also subjective to the physician. We have the training, the experience, and the expertise to interact in a way that provides comfort. It never hurts to lean to the side of providing that comfort.