Doctors dilemma...

[Clutter]

This made me laugh

pbs.twimg.com/media/BVQTZ8x...

[lilliput]

Scary.I think in many ways I trust my doc but google obsessively, Just scared really.

[Glynisrose]

I would never completely trust a doctor, most of them are only in it for the money!!

[rosetrees]

If doctors only understood that they can't know it all and we don't expect them too, then everyone would be better off. Their job should be knowing how to differentiate between the times when they should seek further information (internet, ask a colleague, referral) and the times when they have the correct knowledge already.

It's what I do all the time. One of the things I do is computer troubleshooting. Google is my friend and I don't expect to know it all. I don't dismiss my clients and tell them they don't know what they are talking about. I don't pretend I've fixed something if I haven't. I don't tell them there's nothing wrong just because I don't know the answer. I know who to refer them to if they need hardware support (which I don't provide).

Above all, I don't say the first stupid thing that comes into my head and tell them to go away. This is the number one failing of almost every doctor I have ever met. If patients (of all types) were listened to, questioned and examined properly an enormous amount of time and money would be saved. I'll take bets that almost no-one is correctly diagnosed first time with anything more serious than a boil or earwax. Repeat appointments are routine and a huge number of those would be avoidable.

I suspect this is the biggest single money sink in medicine.

In summary, what I find sad about that cartoon is that its author thinks it's funny - when in fact it should be serious and the norm

Oh dear, it's Sunday and I'm off on one already.

[Hidden in reply to rosetrees]

BUT... instilling God syndrome is part of the training. That's what needs to change first, the idea that Consultants are Gods still prevails, and there is little sign of it happening despite the fact that some of them are paid LESS than GPs!

[rosetrees in reply to Hidden]

Perhaps we need to remove the temples in which they are worshipped? I visit my client's homes.

[Hidden in reply to rosetrees]

Agreed, but we would need 3 times the number then!

[paigie in reply to Hidden]

But gp.s here ignore the hospital consultants' advice + dosages !

[Hidden in reply to paigie]

yes, far from unknown... and now GPs directly control access to Consultants too in fact as Commissioning groups they are in effect the day-to-day controllers of the NHS since the changes

[paigie in reply to Hidden]

This is more sinister than I'd realised, and I'm not naive . . . Is drug pricing the root of this ?

[Hidden in reply to paigie]

Well groups of GPs run a lot of the NHS now... they have a lot of say that the PCTs had in the past. Not just drugs, but what treatments you get. Scares me - let's hope I get nothing new and expensive!

[Clutter in reply to paigie]

Drug and testing costs are a factor but repeat GP appointments are an on cost and could be reduced if relevant tests, not always expensive, were performed.

Anti depressants must be cheap as chips because they're often prescribed in lieu of thyroid testing and B12 deficiency testing.

[shaws Administrator]

One of my doctors, when prescribing, told me to look it up in the internet. I understood when I picked it up from the Chemist as it was printed in Italian. Google gave me the info in English.

[Clutter in reply to shaws]

That's not good If the patient can't read the PIL because its not in English&they don't have internet access there must be a danger of adverse effects which could be dangerous.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Clutter]

In general, I agree.

It may be a surprise to realise that PILs have only accompanied all medicines since 1999.

Even in this information rich society, the only information many people have about

their medicines is the patient information leaflet (PIL) which has been provided

with all medicines since 1999.

mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-...

We also have the problem that not all people can read - English or at all!

I'd suggest that the importer of any medicine that is imported in any volume should be responsible for a rough translation into English or the patient's own language (ideally both so that any medical staff can also read it). But that leaves things that are literally for one or a few patients. And that if made available, the pharmacy that dispenses it should have to provide a copy.

Perhaps, in time, the European Medicines Agency will end up with some sort of a role to ensure that most PILs are available in most recognised European languages? After all, at least sometimes a suitable translation might already exist somewhere!

Rod

[Tiggertighe]

Haha .. thanks Clutter, made me laugh too. Of course, it's only funny because it's true!

There is so much more information these days and doctors aren't expected to know everything;

but, as rosetrees has commented, they feel it necessary to pretend that they do.

The best medics are the ones that respect their patients views and involve them in their treatment.

I would much rather my doctor tell me that she is not sure (but will find out) than accuse me of questioning her 'professional integrity' .... and here I am thinking I'm the one with problems.

[paigie in reply to Tiggertighe]

Our Vet NEVER poses, pretends, or lies : he has always been truthful when unsure, then phones us later, after consulting journals / internet / colleagues. Are gp.s nervous, lazy, poseurs, or what ?

[thelady2003uk]

It made me laugh too - Thank you for cheering me up!

[Fruitandnutcase]

LOL!

Thanks for that, I used to teach and if I didn't know something I always said that I didn't know but 'Lets go and look it up'

Nothing wrong with admitting you don't know something.

Liz

[Clutter]

Inexcusable! Sadly, it does appear that MH treatment isn't taken seriously until suicide is attempted and sometimes not even then. I'm aware that some patients can't access MH care unless they say they're a danger to others.