Fred is currently discussing how often he hasn't been able to rely upon a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Instead, he has had to do his own research and taken the initiative repeatedly to get the medical care he's needed.I've seen medical flubs numerous times. I wrote about how it's important to double check your prescriptions. Now let me tell you a couple stories that will raise your hair, and force you to re-think your medical care.
My friend Lorna is in her early 20s. She has had a painful fight with tumors in her uterus. She somehow suspected that she wasn't being properly treated (even though she has no medical background) and decided to do some research on her own. When she discovered there was apparently a link between uterine tumors and brain tumors, she approached her doctor about it. He dismissed it (after all, he had never heard about it!). Luckily Lorna worked for a radiology department, and was able to beg them to do an MRI on her. What did they find? You guessed it: a brain tumor. Now she is being treated properly. We have great hopes for her.
In my post Doctors: Just What Did Their Transcripts Read? I discussed how easy it is to find an incompetant doctor. In my own case, my extremely painful condition (2 shattered vertebrae in my neck and one cracked one) went undiagnosed for years because no doctor (and I saw specialists!) ever thought to order a simple test that would've immediately shown us all what the exact trouble was. Instead, I went through numerous injections in my neck, which made no difference at all; and years of physical therapy and massage which only made it worse. In this post I also discuss numerous misdiagnoses that have been made for other victims, including some famous local doozies.Perhaps someone needs to put together an Angie's List of doctors. There seems to be no other way to ensure that the person you're going to received an "A" in your particular area of need.
19 comments:
Once while in for some arthroscopic knee surgery, they wheeled me into the OR and told me to roll over onto my stomach. I asked them if it was easier to operate on my knee from the backside at which point they halted and consulted the charts and wheeled me back to the room. They ended up wheeling out my roommate who was scheduled for a colonoscope. It could have been a painful subject for me had I not said something and I have learned to always go over the surgery one last time before they put you under.
It is an unfortunate reality that we must be proactive in our medical care. There are good doctors, doctors that make mistakes (some more, some less) and doctors that are incompetent. It is also true and probably proper that we hold doctors to very high standards - mistakes (especially BIG mistakes) are not tolerated and incompetence outrages us. The same can not be said of a plumber.
As you know, I spent a significant amount of time in the hospital and was blessed with wonderful care for about 6 or 7 weeks. When I was moved to a rehab hospital, I found just how very proactive I had to be.
If I didn't stop them, they would have given me medication that I am allergic to - deadly allergic. It's in my chart... in great BIG red letters, yet they were giving to me anyway. What really pissed me off is that they brushed it off as no big deal - it was just a mistake, an oversight. Needless to say, I have returned to the Washoe Medical Center in Reno several times to thank them for saving my life. I have yet to return th the Washoe Villiage (no anonymity here - full disclosure - if you can avoid this place, do) rehab hospital just down the street - for what? Almost ending it!!
Curiously, they are both owned by the Washoe Medical Group.
~Mike
My wife is a doctor though she currently is not licensed in the United States. She has taken one of the three tests for the license and will probably take the other two but I am doubtful that she will ever practice medicine again. Instead she is currently making her career in medical research. The biggest reason for that is malpractice insurance.
No doubt that we need to be proactive in our medical care... your post is an eye-opener to that.
I have been very fortunate to never had any real illnesses, and only have been in the hospital once. That was almost 20 years ago, when I gave birth to my son. What was supposed to be a routine delivery turned into an emergency C-section, as things went very wrong at the last minute. It wasn't the hospitals fault... my son was "punching" his way out and it caused an abbruption. The staff was wonderful, and handled it very professionally. We both almost died that day.
I have to admit, I have been a lucky person when it comes to doctors... they have all been wonderful and caring.
I feel for the people who have been handled by nothing less than complete stupidity though.
I NEVER rely solely on "experts". I have been burned more than once. I have annoyed more than one Doctor by asking questions. I am disappointed by how many do not care to have their reasoning questioned or challenged. They are after all "THE DOCTOR". When I run into those I run for the exit. From a very real world experience, if I had taken one solely at his judgement, I would have been dead 8 years ago
Knowledge is your friend
Saur, my favorite cousin died two years ago from the very uterine tumor/brain tumor you speak of here. I don't know what else to say. You've said it all. thanks
"Don't even get me started!" he said not quietly.
However, I will say that some nurses are gifts from God.
GO VOODOO!
Wow...you can never be too careful!
I feel like I'm just a 'number' with my doctors. They want ya in and out. NEXT! ... Very true though.
And also, be careful with pharmacies giving you the WRONG medication. It happened to me. They also give out the WRONG dosage. Always----ALWAYS check your prescriptions right there on the spot---or they're not liable for the mistake.
I have a "general practioner" who has NEVER FAILED to properly diagnose (or have diagnosed) my various ailments. Everybody should be so lucky.
Amen! You just never really know who you're trusting.
It's scary!
Serious subject. generally my family and I have been on the end of those who were well cared for. My youngest son suddenly became inert when he was about seven months old. When I described the detailed symtoms, the doctor just said, "I'll meet you at the hospital in thirty five minutes." Within two hours my son had about seven inches of his intestine removed (on a seven month old, that's a lot) He had what was called an intesuseption (spelling?) which means that one part of the intestine had gone up into another part, and the gut was blocked. Here's the kicker. The doctor admitted that if it hadn't been for research he did following the death of one of his grandchildren, he would not have recognized the symptoms. In a way, his dead grandchild saved my son. I have met four other people whose children have had that happen. Two died, and two had children that were mentally handicapped as a result of fever that ran unchecked until they found the problem and did the surgery. In some ways it is all a matter of chance.
As a dollmaker, I really want to know if you have the doll pictured behine the desk and if you do, who made it?
Good post, Saur. You know how I feel about this one. I'm glad you gave us the links; I need to read them.
It's super easy to find an incompetent doctor...sadly, I was the victim of an incompetent plastic surgeon who was an idiot....I checked her out and everything but she did me no favors I assure you!
It's scary to think that the people we need to trust to know what they are doing, are not always trustworthy, or in the know. They charge so much, yet don't always do the best job. What is the world coming to ?? Take care, Meow
Heh. Went half my life without health care. Now that I have it, it's just another bill I don't use. I'd rather go the dentist than the doctor, and I'm not fond of going to the dentist either.
It was an hour and forty minutes past my appointment time when I finally got in to see my OBGYN. Doctors are definitely at fualt, but patients need to demand better, faster care. We let them walk all over us becase we think they're smarter than we are. They just have a different skill.
I am glad I read these posts Saur, thank you for leaving them. From here on out believe me I am going to work on myself before going to any doctor! It seem that, like PC say we need to demand better services, and where is that A list you are talking about! LOL
Post a Comment