One weekend of call many years ago, we had a rock concert festival weekend in our city that was an annual event at the time, so we knew to expect more alcohol and drug-related visits to hospital than usual. One patient came in around noon on the Saturday before these patients would usually be expected as it was typically not a problem until the evening hours or past midnight. But this one had clearly started imbibing rather heavily that morning and had reached such a severe level of intoxication that he needed to be intubated so we could provide ventilatory support. This patient was an achondroplastic dwarf, or “little person.” When we removed his clothing to provide for his medical needs, we all noticed this large tattoo across his abdomen: “Midget with an attitude!”

And I guess he proved it.