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I think most of us realize doctors are human and yes, they do make mistakes. We also need to remember, many diseases have similar symptoms and many diseases can be mistaken. This is why, when there is a doubt it is important to get a second opinion. We are going through this right now: our primary care doctor was trying very hard to help hubby with his swelling and weakness, mainly in his legs. After several tests they did find a blood clot in his leg. She assumed she had solved the problem: NOT!! Now, after several visits with several specialists we still have no concrete answers. He has been taken off of Lipitor for starters. The cardiologist thinks the weakness could be hip related, the oncologist thinks it could have to do with the hormones he was taking and all the radiation, and God only knows what the rest of the doctors think. Today we are headed out for more tests. On the positive side and there always is a positive side, he does feel better lately and the swelling has subsided some. He is thinking, some of the weakness could simply be do, to no exercise at all since he finally finished radiation late last summer, so along with all the above his muscle tone is shot to HELL.
All this being said, I don't think we need to go into a tailspin and start to imagine our doctors are wrong or might be. It is still not a common occurrence. These articles are printed, in many cases for shock purposes. The obviously positive ones don't get much attention cause they aren't interesting.
What gets me is how many doctors nowadays will order a few tests, fail to come to a diagnosis, and throw up their hands and give up, saying "Well I don't know what's wrong with you" without giving you any guidance whatsoever, or "referring" you to a doctor who refuses to see you because you don't have a diagnosis.
It's gotten so bad around here that I no longer even bother with doctors unless I have a problem that requires urgent care or that just won't go away. I have little to no respect for doctors anymore.
I have been the victim of multiple missed Dx. The worst was after an accident I was flown to a hospital 500 miles away from where I lived. When I arrived (I found this in the MR's) I didn't know my address, my job, my age, my family, I couldn't tell them my own name. I was a total blank and had forgotten everything... you get the picture. They called my doc and asked if I had memory problems (I was 55) and they were told no. After 22 days they diagnosed me with encephalopathy and dementia (Alzheimers to be exact). Although an MRI report, which came out normal, had a comment from the tech that I had told the tech I had lost my memory.
I was put in a small foster care home, my rights taken away, and left to die because the doc said my prognosis (the sudden onset dementia) was overwhelming and permanent. My family and friends didn't know where I went and the hospital only contacted my doc and job for info. My job and doc both had my emergency contact as my by then ex-mother-in-law who truly hated me for leaving her little boy. There were no other attempts to try to figure out who my family was and my ex-mother-in-law told them I was an alcoholic and drug addict (not true of course but that women is vindictive).
Long story short, my mother finally found me 10 months later. When I heard her voice my memory came raging back. I had had a rare case of amnesia. By then they had left me in the bed the entire time and my legs had severely contracted, and I had lost 100 lbs. I am now in a wheelchair. It took me 2 years to get my rights back and be able to get into a wheelchair. I could not find one lawyer to represent me in a malpractice case. They all said you can't sue for a misdiagnosis...I disagree. I also think none of then believed my story. The standard of care was not upheld and I suffered irreversible damage.
How's that for shock value?
As someone who works in the health care field I know these types of things happen far too often.
What gets me is how many doctors nowadays will order a few tests, fail to come to a diagnosis, and throw up their hands and give up, saying "Well I don't know what's wrong with you" without giving you any guidance whatsoever, or "referring" you to a doctor who refuses to see you because you don't have a diagnosis.
It's gotten so bad around here that I no longer even bother with doctors unless I have a problem that requires urgent care or that just won't go away. I have little to no respect for doctors anymore.
wow, that certainly isn't the case here. In fact most people I know are complaining about too many tests, and too many doctors referring people to specialists. I never had that trouble living in Texas either. I guess we have been lucky. Our doctors always tried to get to the bottom of the problems.
wow, that certainly isn't the case here. In fact most people I know are complaining about too many tests, and too many doctors referring people to specialists. I never had that trouble living in Texas either. I guess we have been lucky. Our doctors always tried to get to the bottom of the problems.
GPs around here seem to run screaming from a tricky diagnosis or anything requiring intellectual prowess. They basically seem to be factories for blood glucose screenings, blood pressure tests, lectures about 'lifestyle', and antibiotics on demand.
Dare to demand holistic care and you might as well be asking the doctor to nail Jell-O to the ceiling.
They just want to write some test results down, jam a scrip in your hand, and send you on your way. GPs around here, frankly, SUCK.
GPs around here seem to run screaming from a tricky diagnosis or anything requiring intellectual prowess. They basically seem to be factories for blood glucose screenings, blood pressure tests, lectures about 'lifestyle', and antibiotics on demand.
Dare to demand holistic care and you might as well be asking the doctor to nail Jell-O to the ceiling.
They just want to write some test results down, jam a scrip in your hand, and send you on your way. GPs around here, frankly, SUCK.
Not offering holistic care has nothing to do with misdiagnoses or general care. There are not a lot of doctors out there that do subscribe to alternative types of medicine, but they do exist. Maybe if you googled or did a Yahoo check you might find one, in your area that does. I do agree about the tests, and lectures on "lifestyle" changes. I think we all get this, most of us don't want to hear it...I know I don't.
Not offering holistic care has nothing to do with misdiagnoses or general care. There are not a lot of doctors out there that do subscribe to alternative types of medicine, but they do exist. Maybe if you googled or did a Yahoo check you might find one, in your area that does. I do agree about the tests, and lectures on "lifestyle" changes. I think we all get this, most of us don't want to hear it...I know I don't.
'Holistic' isn't new age. Holistic means that they're considering the whole person instead of a disease, condition, or single organ/body part.
My point about GPs here sucking stands. I haven't found a decent one in six years. My point about them arose from someone complaining that doctors make improper diagnoses and I expanded on that, pointing out that some doctors simply refuse to diagnose anything. That's even easier for them; no responsibility, no lawsuits from a 'misdiagnosis', and they can bill your insurance company to their heart's content.
'Holistic' isn't new age. Holistic means that they're considering the whole person instead of a disease, condition, or single organ/body part.
My point about GPs here sucking stands. I haven't found a decent one in six years. My point about them arose from someone complaining that doctors make improper diagnoses and I expanded on that, pointing out that some doctors simply refuse to diagnose anything. That's even easier for them; no responsibility, no lawsuits from a 'misdiagnosis', and they can bill your insurance company to their heart's content.
I am aware of what it is, but it isn't the normal medical treatment. Most doctors are more traditional. This isn't saying it is good or bad, but just how doctors feel. We have a couple of friends and family members that do prefer the Holistic approach, we also have, in our family 3 doctors and a few nurses, that do not subscribe to the practice. It is a little more involved than you would like to think.
I am aware of what it is, but it isn't the normal medical treatment. Most doctors are more traditional. This isn't saying it is good or bad, but just how doctors feel. We have a couple of friends and family members that do prefer the Holistic approach, we also have, in our family 3 doctors and a few nurses, that do not subscribe to the practice. It is a little more involved than you would like to think.
Moot point anyway, since I now only go to doctors if it's an absolute necessity. I'm sick of their sub-standard 'care' and of my insurance company quibbling with the doctor and me over every tiny little thing. I'm done.
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