posted on January 12, 2005 04:58:06 AM new
A take on Linda Pneumonia thread.
I mentioned in this thread about my daughter finding a lump in her breast on Christmas day. I also mentioned that she went in for testing (mammogram and ultrasound) this past Monday. The doctor couldn't see anything on either test however, he could feel the lump. He proceeded to tell her that since it's not showing up on the mammogram or ultrasound that it's probably nothing. This bothers me. If you can feel the lump it's obviously not "nothing". He seems more than willing to just let it go. Fortunately, I have convinced my daughter that she should not let it go. If you have a lump in your breast and the doctor tells you not to worry about it, run as fast as you can to one who will actually find out what it is.
The reason I started this thread is that I understand the need to get control of all the lawsuits, but I am also seeing first-hand the way doctors are treating their patients these days. Fenix03 mentioned having been given a medication that caused an allergic reaction even though it was mentioned in the chart. I've been prescribed things that were noted I'm allergic to and so has my daughter. In her case it's penicillin. Her reaction is so severe it could cause death. She has learned to carefully read the 'cript before leaving the doctor's office. Anything ending in cillin is off limits to her. And, she's been prescribed them numerous times.
It seems that doctors and hospitals are more than willing to push patients through. It's all about volume and not patient care. Is it any wonder that the number of lawsuits against doctors, hospitals and pharmeceutical companies have risen? While I am annoyed at the endless commercials that work to talk people into suing, I can also understand the need. I particularly get a laugh out of the ones that start: "Have you or a loved one died. . .Call blah, blah, blah." Well, Mr. Attorney, if I died due to a medical procedure and I contact you, you've got a lot more to worry about than your cut of the lawsuit. LOL!
We've had to become savvy about our own medical care and more and more doctors are blaming that on the medical malpractice lawsuits. I think it's a lot more than that. I work in the healthcare field and I know that the more patients we see, the more money we make. Even in the alternative healthcare arena, you have to be careful. A massage given to someone with cancer can actually spread the cancer so we're very, very careful.
I'm just curious to know how many others on this board have had a doctor bungle their care. Should we make it harder for patients who have been injured by doctors or pharmeceutical companies to get compensation for that injury? IMO, no we shouldn't. What we should do is cap what attorneys are allowed to make on these lawsuits not what the patient is able to receive. Too much goes into blaming the patient for malpractice suits. We also need to develope a way to make doctors more responsible for the care of the patient. We're paying for their mistakes in ways that were unthinkable 100 years ago when doctors got paid in livestock or food. Obviously, there was a time when doctors weren't in it for the money.
All comments welcome!
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on January 12, 2005 06:24:01 AM new
Just a comment on perscriptions. If when at all possible you should take you perscriptions to the same pharmacy all the time. I will use walgreens as an example. When you take your script there they have your history and they should also be checking that the script given them is not on your allergy list. If you go to a walk in clinic, or emergency room your hospital chart is not availble for them to look at so when that physician or nurse gives you that script it, I feel, it is up to you to ask what it is for. But then also I think that when that script is given to you that nurse or physician should also ask. We know our own health and it is better to question than just accept what they give you.
As for your daughters lump she should go to another physician for a second opinion. That is what I would do in a case like that.
They are trying to modify medical malpractice lawsuits so that jury's don't give out outlandish awards. Of course you should be able to sue but the only one that gets rich is the attorney.
posted on January 12, 2005 08:32:56 AM new
I have my prescriptions filled at my local Wallyworld.. and have done so for years.
I picked up my regular medication, brought it home, opened the bag, only to find someone's heart medication!
I took it back and no one acted like it was a big deal...LOL...just goes to show you, how accidents can happen.. Maggie
posted on January 12, 2005 10:01:57 AM new
I've had a few surgeries in the past years. One, I believe, and others (other drs after the fact)thought it was an uncalled for surgery, was a hysterectomy. I went to a new OB dr about abdominal pain, and basically said that I needed the surgery. It was my fault that I didn't get a second opinion. I had this done, when I was 35. When I did question the surgery, he actually said to me, when looking to see how old I was, 'your a little old to have more children, I don't see where you would have a problem' Yikes. I would never had have more kids, that wasn't the point. Anyway, he assured me that any pain would be gone, so I did it. During the surgery he cut my bladder, and cut it pretty good. Had to have a cathater for 2 weeks. But I waited, and the pain was still there, went back to him, and he said I needed to give it time... well, after a YEAR, a new dr told me I had IBS. Sure, I could have gone after that dr, but I did not.
Oh Maggie, I think you got my prescription. I went to Rite Aid about 7 years ago for my heart med, and I opened the bag up and it was Valium. I know what Valium looks like, and I know what my med looks like. I brought it back, and the pharmacist took me aside, was apologizing profusely, and gave me the right one, but NEVER went there again, then they were in the news, for just that problem. I thought to myself then, what if I was 65 or 70 years old, and trusted blindly the pharmacy? It may have had deadly effects for someone, who knows.
There should be some kind of regulation on medical malpractice, but there are some mistakes that do call for lawsuits, I believe.
posted on January 12, 2005 10:11:16 AM new
Oh, AND hysterectomies are preformed A LOT, and one of the many unnecessary operations performed. (I should have known better, and checked it out more, second opinion etc)
posted on January 12, 2005 12:49:47 PM new
NTS, I am sorry to hear about your problem. My partner's mother had a hysterectomy three years ago at well known medical facility in the Midwest. The doctors said she needed the procedure. She went along and trusted them and was in pain for over a year just like you were. She wanted to sue them, but given the facility she was at, she knew her chances of winning were slim so she decided against it.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 12, 2005 04:03:02 PM new
This is two reasons to get second opinions. Most insurance policies pay for the second one and if they don't it is better to seek advice from another physician that go under the knife necessarily. No matter how big the institution, mistakes can be made remember nobody is perfect. Well except for maggie and her joined at the hip partner.
I hope that Cheryl's daughter will get a second opinion as that is important. Breast lumps whether benign or malignant are nothing to fool around with. I would advise if you have a Susan G. Komen Breast Center close would be the place to go.
_________________
[ edited by Libra63 on Jan 12, 2005 04:04 PM ]
posted on January 12, 2005 06:05:30 PM new
Libra , is that your reply to a woman who has the wrong breast cut off or both breasts when she NEVER had cancer
Is that your answer to a person who DIES because the doctor makes a mistake ?
Shrug your shoulders and say"Hey....nobody's perfect"!!!!
posted on January 12, 2005 06:21:23 PM new
Logansdad, hysterectomys used to be (not sure anymore) the most 'overdone' and unnecessary surgeries performed. Doctors would do them, because it was (keyword WAS) a quick, 'easy' surgery, and the money for them, I'm sure was good.
But NO surgery is 'minor'. When you hear someone say they are having minor surgery, no its not. My ex's wife died during a 'minor' surgery just 1 year ago, and it was! it was a 'simple' biopsy! She was 32 years old, and she went into a coma in the middle of this minor surgery. They had to put her on life support, and pulled the plug 3 days later. 32 is YOUNG to have that happen,IMO, but it does happen.
Everyone should get a second opinion, and everyone should educate themselves if going into any medical procedure.
posted on January 12, 2005 08:41:02 PM new
"Everyone should get a second opinion, and everyone should educate themselves if going into any medical procedure."
I agree as posted above.
When I was going to have my eyes done I contacted the best Physician in Kenosha. Probably in the surrounding area. Price has no meaning when it comes to medical care. If you want the best then you have to pay. Withing two weeks I had both eyes done, and of course even though he was the best that doesn't mean that a mistake couldn't have been made. That was the chance I took. Remember it was my choice to have surgery not the surgeons. I now have 20/20 long distance vision but I need bifocals for close up but the colors are beautiful compared to the gray I saw before.
Everyday we all take chances, well not the ones who are perfect, by going out our front door.
When a physician becomes a robot then we can all relax because everything will be perfect.
Who in this RT has never made a mistake, a serious mistake. I know I have but once the mistake happens there is no way to take it back.
posted on January 13, 2005 12:23:43 AM new
Ya, Libra, and I'm sure if the doctor would've slipped up and blinded you for life you NEVER would've thought of filing a lawsuit... just shrugged and said ..."nobody's perfect".
Ya, right.
[ edited by crowfarm on Jan 13, 2005 08:41 AM ]
posted on January 13, 2005 05:49:50 PM new
Hell, I had to fight with my doctor in order to have a hysterectomy! He made go through a couple of years of taking birth control pills first (was having period every week & a half) when not on them) but when I stopped the problem started again. I asked for a hysterectomy. He countered with the idea of "4 or 5 years" of taking birth control pills again. I said I'd take the hysterectomy. He said I was "too young" (I was 29). I demanded a hysterctomy. We argued for three months on this subject. He finally said "what if you got married & your husband wanted kids?" I told him that if I ever got married (unlikely, as I like my indpendence too much) and if my husband decided he wanted to hear the pitter patter of little feet around the house, he could buy himself a cocker spaniel. The doctor tried to tell me I didn't have the right to decide what to do with my own body & I really should go back to taking the pill. I intimated the levels of pain I'd be causing him if he didn't nip my problems in the bud and give me the #$@!#@$%$#@! hysterectomy! Finally he saw it my way.
Snip. Snip. That was 20 years ago & was one of the happiest days of my life. No more problems. No more hideously painful cramps. No more mess, no more fuss. And I get to laugh at my friends when they kvetch about the "curse."
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on January 14, 2005 11:12:25 AM new
bunnicula, in your case, it looks like you had a very legitimate reason for a hysterectomy. The problem you had, is one that a hysterectomy would solve it. Mine was way different.
Did you try going to another dr to ask about a hysterectomy?
I really should have had a 2nd opinion on mine. I have to say, only for myself, I would have rather have the 'curse' than have to have gone through this surgery.
Pissed me off too, when he said '35! your too old for more children' (but I was never going to have more, no way! I had 3 pregnancys, thats enough!)
The 'curse' oh boy, we are dating ourselves here LOL!
posted on January 14, 2005 11:58:05 AM new
NearThe Sea: no, for some reason asking a different doctor never entered my mind I guess, for me, "second opinion" only comes into play for 'negative' things. And for me a hysterectomy wasn't a negative thing.
Did you have problems with your surgery? Since you'd decided not to have more kids, that didn't come into play, did it?
"Curse" may be dating myself, but for me it really was one. I hated and resented it from the first time I got it (in 7th grade, during a softball game). I had cramps monthly & only taking dramamine & sleeping for 8 hours helped at all. I can remember in high school that my dearest wish was that someone would invent a pill that would make "everything" fall out at once so that I wouldn't have 7 miserable days every single damn month. Or that at the very least women could be like dogs and only have it twice a year.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on January 14, 2005 01:28:50 PM new
People should always get a second and third opinion to make sure the surgery is necessary. However I also feel doctors should pay for their mistakes especially if it was due to their negligence. Surgeries are not to be taking lightly no matter how routine it is. My brother is a nurse and has told me on several occasions that doctors he works with crack jokes and listen to the radio during surgery. All it takes is one slip of the knife and something can go wrong.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on January 14, 2005 03:32:44 PM new
Bunnicula, yeah I had problems. The scalpel, or whatever they use, went 'whoops' and cut my bladder good. But then when I woke to a cathater, the 'good' dr told me that was a common problem; cutting the bladder.... well, geez thanks for telling me now, if its so damn common! argh.
No was not going to have more kids, but at 35 I didn't want to go into early menopause or anything, and I didn't, the 'good' dr DID leave a part of an ovary so I don't have to take any hormones, or hrt. I refuse that stuff, and I know now, that the ovary must be 'giving out' because I do have hot flashes and the symptoms of pre menopause.
Wow, yeah, my 2 older sisters have that bad of periods, I remember my one sister missing school a day or two every month!
But both of them are in their mid 50's and STILL have their periods! The one had a child in her 40's.
just in my case it was totally unnecessary. It did not get rid of any abdominal pain, thats for sure.
I'm glad though that you were able to have one, since it was bad, and you didn't plan on any children.
You know the weird thing is? I don't know if they still do this, or if it was OK state only, but my ex decided to have a vasectomy after our 2nd child. I HAD TO GO WITH HIM and SIGN AWAY HIS SPERM! LOL! I'm serious! They would not do it without MY permission! So yeah I signed. In OK in the early 80's, this is how they did things, never heard of anything like it! Well, he's out of the gene pool, he needed to be anyway
posted on January 14, 2005 07:09:10 PM new
Well logansdad I worked in a very large hospital in Evanston and was the surgical technologist (x-ray) They NEVER played a radio but played music. They NEVER cracked jokes.
For someone to speak that doesn't have hospital experience and takes the word of another person is just spreading heirsay. JMO
posted on January 14, 2005 07:30:27 PM new
That's right Logansdad! If LIBRA hasn't seen it, experienced it...it hasn't happened, it doesn't exist....don't you know that by now?
libra, if the doctor had blinded you during your eye operation would just have shrugged it off and said, "nobody's perfect" ???????
Maggie, you're going to pith her off......
I went to Rite Aid about 7 years ago for my heart med, and I opened the bag up and it was Valium. I know what Valium looks like, and I know what my med looks like. I brought it back, and the pharmacist took me aside, was apologizing profusely, and gave me the right one, but NEVER went there again, then they were in the news, for just that problem. I thought to myself then, what if I was 65 or 70 years old, and trusted blindly the pharmacy? It may have had deadly effects for someone, who knows.
I guess, for me, "second opinion" only comes into play for 'negative' things. And for me a hysterectomy wasn't a negative thing.