Body Bag Humor

Another one of our patients died tonight. It was expected, but when he finally died, some members of the family were sobbing loudly and wailing. It went on for so long that one of the nurses joked that we should go in there and tell them that they can only cry for one hour and then they have to leave. (I know. We're sick.) I corrected her and said that they can cry for only two hours, then they have to leave. I'm correct by the way. There really is a hospital rule that dead patients must be removed within two hours. (Who's sick now?)

The family left long before the two hour mourning period was over, thank goodness. The dead patient was placed in a body bag and transportation was called to come get him. During that time, another family member, who had not heard of the death, came to visit him. She walked in the room and saw a corpse in a bag lying on the bed. She came out and asked if he was dead. She was told yes and she left.

Then we started laughing hysterically. It was both tragic and funny. Did she think that we seal people in body bags while they're still alive? We are short of beds, but even we wouldn't do that. Although, it would save time. We could say to the patient that since they're about to die anyway, would they mind sliding into the bag now, so that we don't have to move them later when they're a dead weight.