Human life cannot be exchanged for money

—Yet, the reality forced upon us in the field—

"Human life cannot be exchanged for money."

I am sure many people would nod at these words.
For healthcare workers, this is even more true.

I feel the same way.
I work as a nurse believing in this.

However—
When you are in the field, there are moments when you feel that this "obvious ideal" is nothing more than an ideal.

I thought they were a "wonderful family"

One day, a patient's condition suddenly changed.

Their condition was unstable, requiring continuous observation and management of medical equipment, so we switched to a private room.

When we contacted the family, they rushed over immediately.

Seeing them gently speaking to the patient at the bedside.
Seeing them holding their hand and talking to them to provide comfort.

Watching that scene, I thought,

"What a wonderful family.".

A comment made in the hallway

After a while, one of the family members came out into the hallway and stopped me.

Then, they asked me this:

"This is a private room, right? How much does it cost?"
"We originally hoped for a shared room, so if possible, we would like to move..."

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

This situation requires private room management to protect their life.
Due to the needs of IVs and equipment management, we cannot accommodate them in a shared room.

—Even so.

Somewhere in my mind, I felt this:

"Are you worried about money more than life?".

Between ideals and reality

Working as a nurse,
the value that "life should be the top priority" remains unshaken.

But in reality,
there is a world that cannot be completed by life alone.

Medical care costs money.
If hospitalization is prolonged, the impact on daily life also increases.
Work, family, life from here on out—

The family is making decisions while carrying all of that on their shoulders.

It is not "life or money"

Was the family's comment at that time
really "money over life"?

Probably not.

I think they were likely in this kind of situation:

✅I want you to protect their life
✅But I also have to protect our life from here on out

A reality with no escape where both must be considered at the same time.

Where the nurse stands

The medical field is a place
where "ideals" and "reality" intersect.

Thelogic of medicinethat prioritizes life, and the
reality of the familythat must protect their livelihood.Neither of these is wrong.

And nurses continue to touch both.

That is precisely why it sometimes becomes painful.


Because I cannot say that only one side is correct.

The lingering sense of discomfort

Even so, I don't think I will forget the discomfort I felt at that time.

"Human life cannot be exchanged for money"
—because I do not want to let go of that feeling.

At the same time,
I also want to understand the"desperation"behind that family's words.

"Human life cannot be exchanged for money."

However, "life" continues even after life is saved.

When faced with that reality, people sometimes
talk about "money" as desperately as they talk about life.

That may not be coldness,
but another kind of desperation for someone who has something to protect.

And today, in the field, there is
a reality that cannot be sustained by ideals alone.

Within that,what do I protect, and how do I face it?.

While holding that question,
I continue to provide nursing care.