an itinerant observer

I am a Medical Officer leading a team of two students, a nurse, and an in-house doctor for what seems to be a typical ward round. We are seeing some patients that have just been moved under the care of our team in an Oncology unit. While on round, one of my patients needs the nurse, who promptly leaves to attend to the call. As we move on, the students also leave for a class. The in-house doctor soon requests leave as well. I'm beginning to take all this as a sign of something insightful to come. I am left to see the next patient by myself. I see her as any another patient who needs medical attention until we get into a conversation that is both remarkable and, as I foresaw my day to be, insightful. In a mere 45 minutes, my encounter with this patient will leave an extraordinary impact on the way I interact with other patients. And so the 45 minutes begin... I inquire about her well-being and get a vague response from her. As I'm taking notes in her file, she br