SA trauma doctor reveals what happens how they break the worst news

The Royal Adelaide Hospital’s director of trauma Dan Ellis has one of SA’s hardest jobs – telling people their loved one didn’t make it.

In South Australia, 53 people have died on our roads so far this year – people Royal Adelaide Hospital’s trauma director Dan Ellis never forgets.

The road toll has not been higher since 2010 when our state lost 57 lives compared with the same time this year.

Given the “ultimate responsibility” to save as many lives as possible, Associate Professor Ellis is the one of the tireless hospital workers who gives every ounce of themselves to their patients – sometimes with no avail.

For Prof Ellis, telling the family members of those that don’t make it is the “hardest” part of his job.

“It’s really hard opening the door because there’s that immediate response of – excellent (the doctors) are here,” he said, describing a look of hope in the family member’s eyes when he confirms they are relatives of his patient.

“You cannot beat around the bush in these situations … I immediately come out with ‘I’m afraid he’s died’.

“Otherwise, if you think about it – and I have over the years – there’s no segue into this, this is a blunt lane change, there’s no slip road into this conversation.

“You can’t say well, you know we did everything we could and we did this, because they’re just sitting there going what are you trying to tell me.

“I come out with that comment first and then I obviously pause for that inevitable response which is usually one of stunned silence, and then I … give some context to what I’ve just said.”

Dan Ellis is the director of trauma at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: Mark Brake

But before this devastating moment, Prof Ellis said it is an “exquisitely sensitive” time.

“It’s sensitive because you know and they don’t – you know that this person is now dead but 10 metres down the corridor is a family who still thinks everyone’s doing everything they can, but it’s over,” he said.

For the 53 family members who have lost their loved one Prof Ellis said they experience “terrible, raw emotion” that he is “helpless” to fix.

“There’s nothing anybody can do, there’s just no comforting, no box of tissues or packet of sweets, there’s just absolutely nothing but the feeling of utter helplessness, there’s nothing you can do or say and nothing anybody in the world could do or say that will make that 60 seconds bearable for that person,” he said.

Prof Ellis with Elise Kennedy, who was confined to a wheelchair following a road crash, and director of Australian Road Safety Foundation Quentin Crombie. Picture: Keryn Stevens

For Prof Ellis and the other workers they do not always have the luxury of time to process their patient’s death.

“The buzzer will go again and there’ll be another one coming in,” he said.

“It never stops – there is no point going to the next poor victim, who’s come to you for help and your mind is thinking, ‘oh no what about that last guy’.”

There are times the trauma team has a moment to have what they call a “hot debrief” where they come together and process the loss.

“It’s not guaranteed but we’re much better at doing it – so it’s not completely merciless,” he said.

The team also takes part in a clinical audit and governance program each Wednesday morning.

“If we find things that keep occurring … then we can actually start to institute change so it’s a really powerful tool.”