Cassel Research Centre

On FEB 6th 2000, Dandenong hospital emergency staff members were confused on examining admission X-Rays, because Dr Costello discharged himself. Pleading to phone an ambulance to return home, he was told almost humorously, “The only way you can leave hospital is to walk un-assisted” and that besides, he was incontinent and could not walk to the toilet. A well-intended lecturette on pain management ensued during which Brian responded sheepishly with disparaging non-verbals. Controlling tears with a modicum of patience, indignantly he replied that his damp trolley sheet was due to the crushed ice he packed beneath his back, before the Cranbourne ambulance drove him to hospital.

Considering almost depleted finances due to deliberately reduced caseload because of lengthy chemotherapy treatment, Brian feared the foreboding consequences of prolonged intensive care hospitalisation and also that his immune system was too weak for good recovery.
Encouraged by his loving wife and son while praying he agonized in standing up from the trolley and “walked un-assisted as required” from the emergency ward. This was a very difficult task but preferable to automatic intensive care admission with accompanying medication for six weeks standard pain management.