Doctors that just don't care?

aisha1 · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: Doctors that just don't care?

I have started a new thread because I need to get this off my chest........

WHY do doctors just not care anymore?

I remember when I was small, my Mum used to take us to our family doctor. He knew our whole family. He was always concerned, and I can remember at least 2 occasions when he came out on call to our house in the middle of the night. Once for my sister (he thought she had meningitis on the phone), and once for my Mum when she was really sick during her chemo.

Now.......fast forward to 2009.............

No doctor (CONSULTANT IN PARTICULAR!!) wants to even do their job! It seems that you are no longer an individual. You are just the 2:30 appointment, they want to get it over and done with. They have a 3:45 appointment, and then a 4:00 appointment, and then they are due to go to a dinner party at Veronica's house with their wife.

Even more convenient for them (consultants in particular), is to pass you over to someone else. That is the favourite of their tricks! That way they don't have to even get to know you or take on your case at all. Maybe they can even prolong things and MAKE THINGS UP about what the protocol is for 'what happens next'.

It seems like now we are living in the new millenium, and as the years increase and medicine is at it's pinicle - no one cares about the individual, or what they are going through. No one is THAT concerned about you because you are just the 10:30 appointment. They don't even know your name if they see your face.

Whilst medicine is at it's highest point in the history of mankind - the doctors do not seem to be following suit, but in fact regressing!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh it feels good to let that out. What should we do about this? The wages not reflecting the practice of the doctors. They only have a job because WE are the patients!
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

ChemoMan · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

Hi aisha1

I hear what you are saying. This is not my experience however. My treating doctor is a professor and one of this countries best heamatologists. the only time he doesn't see me is when he is away on conferences. He has a very caring approach and a fantastic sense of humour. When he is away I see the second in charge a polite and competent doctor who always listens to what I have to say. I have never seen a junior doctor in the entire course of my illness. And yes I am a PUBLIC patient although I attend a PRIVATE clinic. This is because my cancer was missed due to 2 erroneous biopsies, both gave false negatives. As soon as the doctors saw my case history they considered it a medical emergency and put me into the private clinic which saved me a wait of about 3 months. My case is reviewed by a team of specialists as are all cancer patients where I live and no decisions are made by one person alone.

I am convinced this is all due to the fact that we in Australia have the best health system in the world. We have universal coverage with a healthy public system which is complimented by a robust and efficient private system. Our medical insurance is affordable and people dont have to rely on their employer to get it, in fact that does not happen here.
Medication does not cost and arm and a leg and everybody can afford the best medications as the cost is heavily subsidised. pensioners get their scripts free.

It does have problems as any system has, but when I see the problems you face in the UK and the trials and tribulations of patients in the US, I just shake my head in bewilderment and thank my lucky stars I live where I do.

Aisha you can make change happen. One person with enough drive and energy can do this and get the ball rolling.

From little things big things grow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tHEGo-g3mw

If you have trouble with the words here is another version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on82-wnO4kk&feature=related

Its the story of Vincent Lingiari who took on the biggest cattle baron in this country and after a 8 year struggle won his land back for his people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Lingiari

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrHoXziHtf0
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 288 Location: Japan

Indeed, I am highly satisfied with 80% of the doctors that I've encountered during by bout with lymphoma, and I don't think there is one that I would label "bad" or uncaring. My current onc made our first meeting for us outside of his regular hours and sat down with my wife and I to explain things for over two hours. He and his staff of many capable doctors, as well as all of the nurses I have encountered, have all bent over backwards for me many times since.

So just because you have had a few bad experiences, don't believe that ALL doctors are bad and uncaring. Unfortunately, the onus is on you to find the good ones, and sometimes that is nothing but pure luck and serendipity. But they are out there!
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

havefaith · Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

hi aisha

maybe the doctors have alot of pressions they did'nt have in the past who knows how their days are, maybe they are less doctors doing the jobs of many.
of corse their is always doctors who are cold and true even don't know your name. for myself the must important things a doctor must do for me is to lesten to every concern i have.
for you joepet , if i am not mistaken you are in japan and in japan they do their job very good very politely, this is a great country with great human been. for chemoman australia maybe have a great healt system, maybe. in canada we have a big crisis in healthissues maybe in uk they are too having a crisis, who knows.
in u.a.e. in dubai in particular in two weeks i saw 5 specialist cardiologue nephrologue, cardiotoracic, genralist, neurolologue hade every day blood test like 20 reports had xray ct scan all in two weeks, the same in canada would take me more than a year, maybe it was because it was a private hospital.
_________________
28 y f
thyroid cancer (28-09-09)

thyrodoctomy total+ sternotomy median 2009

what is worth the price always worth the fight.
stay strong and live strong.

aisha1 · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

Alright! You have all restored my faith in doctors a little bit. I just hope I get to talk to someone who seems like they care a little bit soon.

Even when you go to them with symptoms, they either think it is better to treat the symptom than get to the root cause, or they shrug it off as if these things just go away. That's how I'm feeling at the moment.

I'm going to go away for a few days tomorrow with my sister. That might enable me to think more freely. I'm not used to feeling like this. It is also annoying me that I have been sent a letter telling me that I am not entitled to any benefit (social security). I swear - if you see the people that are getting money from the government when you go to the office - THEY ARE MOSTLY HERION ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS! They give a high amount of money to drug addicts because it is classed as an 'illness' here in the UK. They also class alcoholism as an 'illness', so they also get a high rate of benefit! This system is all mashed up.

They are sending me to what is called a 'Work focussed interview' where they will talk to me about the positions that are available to me right now whilst I am sick. I MEAN COME ON! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? I have had years and years of paying tax and national insurance. I have been working since I was 16. I am now 27. That's 11 years with only a short break each time when I had my children. Now I have to be a junkie to receive any benefit?

I asked them why my letter said that I don't fulfill the criteria, but they said it's because I have applied too early? So do I have to be dead before they will help me out?

Japan is a great place. The people are polite, energetic, friendly and understanding. Australia has also got a good system going, that is evident in this global crisis. Anyway..........I don't want to get everyone on a downer.

I need to go because I have lots of things to do today and I didn't get much sleep last night (couldn't stop thinking then kids woke up at 3am for some reason?!), plus my legs and right arm are hurting. I have to get my hair cut as well because it is just falling out too much. Every time I brush it, the brush is full and it is getting tangled all the time.

I do feel better now that some people have told me that they have had great treatment in the end. Maybe that will happen with me, and someone at the hospital will actually return my calls, or talk to me seriously when I have an appointment?
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

aisha1 · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:49 am Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

By the way, those links were good!

What happened to the money that was raised from the 'Make Poverty History' tour anyway? Did they ever write a charity report about when the money went? With most of these charities, you find out that less than 30% goes directly to those who need it. There's always a fat cat at the top who is taking a director's salary!!! Wink

_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

ChemoMan · Last edited by ChemoMan on Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:57 am; edited 1 time in total

Hi aisha1

Arrrrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh.......there I said it for you.

My estimation of the UK has just gone down the toilet Crying or Very sad

On a lighter note enjoy your break Laughing

_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

ChemoMan · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

Hi aisha1

Well it didn't work however much they got....we still have poverty in this country and our aboriginal people are still suffering Crying or Very sad

Cest la vie
_________________
Age 52
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... Don't forget Rule number 1

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 288 Location: Japan

Just so I'm not misunderstood, Japan is not all roses and sunshine either. Our biggest health crises are dealing with the elderly and rural residents. The percentage of elderly in the population is increasing at an explosive rate (over 1 in 4 Japanese women are over the age of 65!), while the percentage of care workers are decreasing. The conditions in many old folks homes is appalling, but you still consider yourself fortunate to get in as the average wait list is over a year long. I've watched both my in laws suffer more than they should have as a result.

And as most young folk, including doctors, move to be near Tokyo or Osaka, the rural hospitals cannot survive, and are closing everywhere. So they have to come to the city, meaning that many city hospitals are working at maximum capacity. There have been several stories of people dying in ambulences because the first hospital contacted wouldn't accept them. Or the second hospital. Or the third. Or the sixth. Or the tenth.

So you probably don't really want to be old and infirmed, live outside the urban areas, or be in need of urgent emergency care in Japan if you can help it.
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

aisha1 · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Doctors that just don't care?

Well, it is not all 'hello kitty' and sparkly purses is it? Wink

Sounds like every country has their own downfalls to a certain degree. Hey, just thank God you're not living in Rwanda!

I'm going away for a few days tomorrow (thanks ChemoMan, I will relax!). I'm looking forward to it, and it's out in the country so I'll be breathing lots of fresh air. Here comes Anne of Green Gables.

Aisha
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

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