Posted on 06/19/2008 9:26:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sukalpa???????
Although it takes a certain level of intelligence (a very high level) to become a physician, obviously that does not ensure that the individual is not crazy, drunk, on drugs, has good bedside manner, or even common sense, BUT the man should not have called him “dumber than a monkey.”
This doctor obviously has some self-control issues but I really don’t think that people should be insulting each other in this manner. Respect is always a good thing. Now if the doctor had said something first, well....
My family and I have run the gamut of doctors, from the absolute best in their fields to the stupid monkeys. You’re best bet is to learn as much as possible about your condition and walk out if the doctor seems clueless. You know your body best.
I agree with most of your post in that a person really has to be their own advocate. Doctors often don’t check everything. I’ve been prescribed things that are also contraindicated. I also recently had an experience where the pharmacy totally screwed up. Thankfully I had paid CAREFUL attention to my doctor’s instructions on how to take the medicine so when the pharmacy wrote it out otherwise, I questioned them immediately.
My issue with your post is that you said you were “yelling” at the doctor. In a civil society, is this really necessary? We are going to have some serious shortages of physicians in the near future and, frankly, considering all they have to go through nowadays, and with the outrageous malpractice rates, and then having to be yelled at by patients, even if they did make a mistake, is just sad to me.
Would you “yell” at your attorney? If the checkout lady made an error, would you “yell at her?
Just wondering.
If you have been “talked down to” by ANY professional; and believe me, I have had this experience as well, it is your prerogative to change professionals.
My worst experiences have always been with attorneys but I’ve had a couple of doctors do this. One was a real creep. They are people too and there are nasty, incompetent, and ever other adjective, people in the medical community just as in all other communities.
Amen to that. In the several times my family members have sought a diagnosis, they were first misdiagnosed almost every time, for months or years, with the females almost always told they needed anti-depressants, when in fact they had serious physical illnesses.
Patients whose communication style is quiet, soft-spoken, matter-of-fact or objective about their symptoms often they do not get taken seriously like the drama queen patients. This phenomenon has cultural dimensions, given the ethnic background of most docs in large Eastern cities.
Your post makes several important and valid points. If a doctor makes a mistake, it’s YOUR body. One must be his/her own advocate. I keep trying to explain that to my mother, but she’s living in the old world where you just accept things as Gospel truth from doctors.
However, there is a civil, adult, and professional way to make one’s point. One can be assertive without being rude or antagonistic.
Again, excellent post.
My husband was having terrible pain in his upper leg, near the groin. It was so bad that he stopped on the was home from a business trip in Seattle, at his office and called me to ask me to get him in to see a doctor. I got him in to our family doctor and the doctor told him that it was a type of tendinitis. I told him to turn around and go back into the doctor’s office and tell him that it was definitely not tendinitis because tendinitis is not painful when you are at rest. My husband refused. He liked the diagnosis.
I year later, the pain was worse and he again mentioned it to the doctor. The doctor’s nurse called us at 5:30 on New Years Eve to tell us that my husband had a bone tumor. Thankfully, it turned out not to be cancerous, but waiting a full year was potentially disastrous. As it was, the delay put my husband at risk of stress fracture that could have caused him to need a hip transplant, on top of the metal bar in the bone.
Your husband is one very fortunate and blessed person - he has you as a wife and he survived the cancer.
God bless you both.
As I say, it’s the one body you have and the medical folks DO make mistakes. Heck, they’d be the first to admit it too.
You are correct that only very intelligent people should be doctors. However, that is not always the case. People do an end run around the vetting process with affirmative action and non-US medical schools.
Furthermore, intelligence is no guarantee of competence.
When the doctor said my husband was a malingerer who was faking his symptoms, I lost my temper. I don’t normally yell at people that make mistakes but in that instance, I felt justified.
Well, you have a point. I think under those circumstances, I would have become extremely indignant. I still would not have yelled, but I sure would’ve put that doc in his place.
At least you stuck up for hubby, which is what a good wife does.
I had an HVAC guy out here to fix the heat pump that was dumber than a bag of hammers. He did more harm than good. I’m surprised he could figure out how to drive the truck. He had all manner of certificates also.
I wound up fixing it myself.
Oh, you said a mouthful.
And it’s going to get much, much worse if we don’t do something either. Americans aren’t going into Med Schools these days - takes too long, costs too much (major debt when you leave) and then there’s the malpractice insurance.
We are going to start seeing way more foreign docs. I don’t like it. IMHO, if the guy can’t even understand what you are saying, how’s he going to be able to diagnose you or even have a clue. Also, it’s imperative that you can understand HIM/HER.
If I can’t understand them, I won’t use them.
Those certificates will get you every time.
“the heat pump that was dumber than a bag of hammers”
ROFLOL
“We are going to start seeing way more foreign docs.”
We already are. Take a look at the doctors that you can use under your plan and look where they went to school. I was excited when I finally found one who went to Ohio State.
If a physical confrontation is likely, or a verbal confrontation that would likely get the doctor in touble, it is best that the doctor leave the room. I don’t see anything unprofessional about that. Perhaps they could escort the people to the check out desk or waiting area. Then make like a bird and scram for a while.
American Medical schools do turn away thousands of qualified applicants, and the reasons are not always good ones. That could be anything from affirmative action to a snap judgement by an interviewer.
Medical students who are admitted to US schools are quick to judge those who aren’t, but it’s really no more valid or different than a high school jock who picks on a kid who didn’t make the team. There are a lot of arrogant doctors admitted and practicing, regardless of skills.
The husband may have had NO basis for calling the doctor dumber than a monkey. Just because the doctor went to a foreign medical school does not necessarily mean they are a bad doctor, either. Perhaps more likely, but you can’t always jump to that conclusion. You really can’t always go by credentials and directories either. The best guy at Mayo may have a bad day that is worse than the worst doctor having good day at the “free” clinic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.