ICU Doctor Uninvited From Best Friend's Wedding for Treating COVID Patients
The pandemic has affected everyone, but COVID-19 has especially taken a toll on healthcare workers.
According to a study co-written by researchers at the American Medical Association, medical personnel are facing a range of pandemic-related mental health issues. Of the surveyed healthcare workers, "61 percent of those surveyed felt high fear of exposing themselves or their families to COVID-19 while 38 percent self-reported experiencing anxiety or depression."
"Another 43 percent suffered from work overload and 49 percent had burnout," added the AMA, noting that "stress scores were highest among...women, Black and Latinx health care workers."
Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have taken to social media to share the unique struggle of working amid the pandemic, including TikToker Emily Long, MD, who touched on the isolating nature of her work in a recent video, found here.
In the clip, which has been viewed over 4 million times, Long explained she was supposed to attend one of her best friend's wedding events the following day, adding that she used her limited vacation time in order to go.
"When I texted her this morning to let her know that I was being tested and taking all of these precautions before I flew in an attempt to make her feel comfortable, she totally freaked out when she found out I take care of sick people," said Long.
She added, sarcastically: "Who would've thought that a doctor takes care of sick people?"
Ultimately, explained Long, she "was uninvited because [she] made her [and] other people...feel uncomfortable."
The video racked up over a half-million likes, and viewers flooded the comments section with messages of support for Long. Many, for example, felt that disinviting Long was a hypocritical move, given all of the other potential risks that come with hosting a wedding amid a pandemic.
"She [is] having a big wedding and then is worried about you? Oh no honey," wrote one commenter.
Unfortunately, it appeared that Long wasn't alone in her experience. "My daughter is an EMT and our whole family was uninvited to events. Yet she is the very person that would take care of them at the ER," explained one viewer.
Long further lamented the situation in the comments section: "Two negative PCR tests and the knowledge that I would NEVER put anyone I care about at risk simply aren't enough in these crazy times," she said.
A couple of days later, Long posted an update video, explaining she went back to work after the wedding plans fell through. Long works in an ICU that has doctors on a grueling schedule, meaning that time off is limited. "It was a huge ask for me to be able to go to this event, and it was going to cost $2,800 for someone to cover my shift," she said.
"I'm gonna honor my commitment to my job and my patients," she said.
Newsweek has reached out to Long for further comment.
