The tender moment a doctor is seen grieving the loss of a young patient outside a Southern California hospital is going viral.

Imgur user NickMoore911, who is an EMT, posted the picture online with the caption "An ER doctor steps outside after losing a 19-year old patient." 

Moore says a fellow EMT snapped the photo, which appears to show the doctor kneeling over and crying outside.

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"The man pictured was unable to save one of his patients," wrote Moore. "Though this is a common occurrence in our field of work, the patients we lose are typically old, sick, or some combination of the two. The patient that died was 19 years old, and for him, it was one of those calls we get sometimes that just hits you."

The doctor's name or how the patient died has not been revealed, but Moore says that after a few minutes, the compassionate doctor got himself together and "stepped back inside, holding his head high again."

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Instructor Daniel Jean-Baptiste reminds students to "measure twice, cut once" while using a hand saw at the Construction Ready accelerated summer program at Westside Works in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The program provides training for careers in construction and the skilled trades. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com