Trust Issues

[serenfach]

The older doctor in my GP practice, that I have known for years and trusted, lied to me the other day and I have no faith in him any more.

I had an eye infection a few weeks ago, which I put down to hay fever. I was prescribed Chloramphenicol, but the infection took a while to clear as the instructions from the GP said one drop three times a day. After a bit I read the instructions on the packet which were two to three drops every few hours, a huge difference.

I then got another eye infection a couple of weeks later, and managed to convince the GP to just give me a prescription without seeing me, as obviously, I could not drive. The same instructions etc. The infection cleared up much faster as I followed the pack instructions.

I casually mentioned this to the receptionist while waiting for my blood test for diabetes, which I do not have, and she took a while to understand that the instructions auto printed by the GP computer were wrong, blaming the chemist. I had already checked with the chemist that they print out from the GP instructions. The GP phoned me, would not admit the computer info may have been inputted wrongly, and told me he said the dose by how red my eye was. He had not seen me!

There was more than a hint that I should not question the practice. Lets lie to the patient not check the computer!

Now an eye infection is painful, but not really life threatening. They are also responsible for my thyroid care. I hate being lied to, and there was no need, but there is no other practice in the area. Just so unnecessary!

[helvella]

The word trust was utterly debased when they set up NHS "trusts".

Former words such as "authority" were abandoned. The intent clearly being that we should automatically assume and accept that having the word "trust" in their names meant they were wholly trustworthy and should, indeed must, be trusted.

I entirely agree with you. Once broken, cannot be mended.

[radd]

s,

He doesn't like it that you caught him out.

Sorry to hear about your eye infection. And may be not life threatening but could be rather serious regarding preserving your sight 👀

[serenfach in reply to radd]

I am as blind as a bat with -10 sight, so do try and hang on to my eyes as I find them quite useful.

Optician - can you read the letters on the chart on the wall?

Me - what wall?

[radd in reply to serenfach]

😁

[buddy99 in reply to serenfach]

[Ratherbegardening]

I have bought Chloramphenicol many times over the counter. If I had to wait to see my GP, lord knows how bad my eye infections could get. The pharmacist doesn't even get involved, the person on the till gives it to you and checks that you don't wear contact lenses (I do, but not when I have an eye infection). I just follow the instructions on the drops. I always check everything (instructions and online) I am prescribed or take - ever since I was once prescribed an antibiotic which wasn't called penicillin (had a different name, but was essentially penicillin), when I am allergic to it and it clearly says so on my medical notes!

[Cornwaller]

Worth keeping an unopened bottle for eye infections- as it enables immediate treatment which is so much more effective. You can get one online. The only downside is that you might not use/ need it. But that's a pretty good downside.

[buddy99]

It is such a shock to find out that you have been lied to by any trusted person, and I find it especially painful when the deception comes from a doctor. They are usually given a trust advance just for being physicians. They don't have to earn it like most other people. Trust is the most important thing in any relationship and of the utmost importance when potentially putting one's life into the hands of a person. Trust usually has to be earned and takes time to build. It is also lost fast and permanently when betrayed. Unfortunately the loss of trust can be transferred to a whole group, in this case doctors, when the trust is breeched more than once or in a very traumatizing way by one or more members of the same group. I have been lied to and about by doctors several times (sometimes with far reaching consequences not just for my health). This included falsifying my records to cover up incompetence and claiming in my record that I had declined a procedure that the doctor had been unable to perform and, on top of that, on my next visit accusing ME of declining important medical procedures. Prior to my visit (my last to THAT doctor) I had already seen my medical record and was aware of the deception. So it was especially shocking to meet with a rather venomous accusation. Now, when a doctor tells me that I need to have some trust, I feel the urge to snort. I'm sure there are some trustworthy doctors out there, but they would have to work very hard to gain my trust. The result is that I avoid seeing a doctor at all cost knowingly accepting that this could be harmful to my health or even cost me my life. But then again, so could be seeing a doctor. It has even spilled over to my son, who, having witnessed my experience AND that of his mother-in-law, avoids doctors like the plague. Writing this I realize that this was a "female" experience my son witnessed, but this is a whole other challenge to be tackled. Serenfach, I honestly hope that this will be the only betrayal by a doctor you experienced. Losing all faith in the medical system can be very unpleasant. I would imagine that returning to this conniving doctor for lack of other options will be quite the challenge. I wish you all the best.

[snow22 in reply to buddy99]

It is shocking that the two systems we are meant to trust the most have the most toxic culture - medical and police. The systems are now being compared, see articles in the media reports on female surgeons abuse by male medics. The toxic medical system is still hidden and covered up. In the police force women who reported problems say they also received false allegations against themselves so that they become the victim. The same tactics used by the medical profession. Hopefully one day this will all be revealed and all their cover ups, so the atrocities are stopped sooner not later, as in the case of Dr Ian Patterson.

[buddy99 in reply to snow22]

I look at the medical system as an exclusive old men's club that, when deciding who gets a medical education, only let in like minded or pliable applicants. And once in, they brain wash the heck out of them. When looking up "methods of brain washing", it is easy to see that the same methods are used on med students, such as sleep deprivation, withholding food and drink, humiliation, indoctrination etc. The two options left for students are 1) give up or 2) fit in. My, somewhat educated, opinion.

[snow22 in reply to buddy99]

Yes even some doctors call the medical system a cult. You are brainwashed, abused and then silenced. No complaints are allowed and so the good ones often leave. To practice alternative holistic medicine. That looks at the positive solutions to help the route causes not just peddle big pharmas latest drugs to cover up your symptoms while making a huge profit for themselves. Again the same motive as most cults. Including the sexual abuse of female staff. Just recently exposed in the media.

[Trelissa in reply to snow22]

My children were all affected by my medication I had not been told it was a teratogen. I was taking what is now regarded as the highest dose ever given in the world (teratogenic specialists are a close knit community so it's something that would be spotted) as an expert patient I meet many professionals who are shocked but anyone treating me refuses to acknowledge any of the overprescribed medications I have been given (3 meds over prescribed over many years) I have multiple chronic health conditions I had a major operation a couple of years ago ICU said that much had been messed up during the op. Everything was retracted along with 3 prescription issues. My brother who lives in America highlighted that we actually have it better over here, I am not convinced if you can't hold someone to account when it comes to people's lives......

[snow22 in reply to Trelissa]

It is awful that so much can go wrong but then when on top of this records can be retracted and false ones inserted we cannot call this a good system. Even doctors who whistleblow are called names and thrown out. America tries to have a protection method for this, we do not. Other countries like Sweden know the only way to stop these atrocities is to investigate as soon as possible not cover up, as long as possible like in the UK. This leads to a toxic culture and atrocities like Dr Ian Paterson .

[Otto11]

Sorry you had this experience. I hope things are improving now. Drs just don’t like it when you question their judgement. I had what I thought could be a toe infection after fusion surgery. I rang the surgery & was told to take photos to send in. I had an osteopath appointment so didn’t have the chance to send them before I went then in the middle of my appointment the GP called to say he had looked at the photos & prescribed antibiotics. I said I havnt sent any photos in then after a second or two he responded by saying well someone in the community must have sent them then 🤷🏻‍♀️& it is an infection. He then went on to say he had looked back at previous antibiotics I had had & was prescribing a strong dose. After getting them I realised they were the same antibiotics that had been flagged up on my notes as not to be prescribed. I told receptionist but was told that it was for a different type of infection this time! I didn’t have the energy to try to explain to her or the GP who is obviously clairvoyant!

[Trelissa]

Today you have to be informed and strong enough to stand in your corner. We still have the type of healthcare many other countries would value. Our good doctors are poached by other countries. However the fear of what might happen if mistakes are made (doctors rep, cost of litigation rtc) has created a culture that is poisonous to the system. I was lied to numerously last time I was in hospital. Organisations such as Powher help but I have found that their ability to provide support is limited PALS is a whitewash. I liked the look of the redress concept from Norway. The government is resisting this. We need this type of change in the NHS

[serenfach]

The GP and I were in the same social group for a while, so I knew him outside his GP role, which makes the lie worse somehow.

I had a contrast medium MRI and had an overdose of whatever it was they inject. I ended up in hospital because of it. 9 months down the line my goitre gave the doctors a clue why I felt so ill. They denied I had had a scan but they left the scan results in the file... one of many times I have been lied to...

[snow22]

The health field has a very toxic culture, which has been compared to that of the police force. Recently written about in the news, in the case of female surgeons who have been sexually assaulted and find themselves unable to report it. It protects those carrying out the abuse not the victim. Says organisational and cultural change is needed and ways to report it. Hopefully one day they will investigate the lies and cover ups in relation to patients too. as in the cases of Dr Ian Patterson, abuse and deaths of women were covered up for years, until it amounted to 100s.

theguardian.com/society/202...