Saturday May 17th, 2008
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When To Drop Your Doctor
Posted by Su Avasthi on August 16, 2007 - 7:13pm.
Several years ago, I had a persistent, wet cough which I knew from past experience was probably bronchitis. Normally, I don't diagnose myself, but in this case, I knew the symptoms all too well.
I'd just moved to New York, and I didn't have a doctor because I was in my early 20s and otherwise healthy. At that time, it never occurred to me to try natural alternatives. Especially since I finally had my own health insurance. So I picked a name randomly from the booklet that my HMO had sent to me.
I selected this particular doctor because (1) She had a friendly-sounding name; (2) Her office was near my office; and (3) I got an appointment right away.
I figured that I'd get the prescription for antibiotics that I needed as soon as I told her about my history of contracting bronchitis each spring.
That's not what happened. Instead of my medical history during the office visit, she seemed more interested in my career choices, and asked me several bizarre, less-than-medical questions. Among them, I remember, what was my college G.P.A., and (out of the blue) why hadn't I applied to law school.
Then she sent me off with orders to get a lot of blood tests, chest x-rays, and even an MRI. She'd write me a prescription, she said, when the test results came back. As anyone who's ever dealt with the American health care system knows, that meant a long wait and a lot of (probably unnecessary) bills.
To be fair, she was trying to play it safe by ordering all those tests. But, I felt like she hadn't heard me or considered my medical history. Weirder still, she seemed to be oddly disappointed in me for not going to law school.
Still, I was young and a bit confused by the whole experience. I also lacked the confidence (I hadn't applied to med school either!) to question anyone who wore a white coat and stethescope. So I called a doctor from my hometown, told him what happened, and asked for his advice. I was very relieved when he directed me to an old colleague in New York.
I remembered this strange encounter as I read these great tips on CNN.com about when to fire your doctor. Like me, they asked a doctor for advice about when it's time to give your doctor the boot.
Ordering a lot of tests isn't a reason to look for another doc, but I experienced three of the five reasons they list: I felt like she didn't listen to me, I felt bad when I left her office, and I don't think we liked each other much.
The other two are: Your doctor doesn't like it when you ask questions and he/she can't explain your illness in language that you understand.
Of course, the doctor I "fired" might have liked me a lot more if I'd ever considered going to law school. On the other hand, she might have liked me a lot less if I uttered the word "malpractice."
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I have always had a lot of doctors in and out of my life. One I am a military brat so I rarely ever get the same doctor ALL the time. So maybe that was a good thing. But once I had gotten into high school I started seeing a therapist and a Physiatrist. For me to have a good therapist I need a doctor that at least SEEMS like he/she actually cares. I had to go through about 4-5 therapists to find a good one, my mom was not happy about that. But if we are going to pay for some medical assistance I think that we should get our money’s worth. To me it is a big rip off when you spend a lot of money on going to the doctor’s (any kind) and not receiving the service that we expect. You would think that since all these doctors went to school for so long that they would actually care about what they are doing and how they are treating their patients. I guess our moral standards have dropped a lot in the last decade, I would say. Doctors need to meet their patients on some kind of personal level, to help us one physically and maybe even mentally without us knowing it!
I felt bad "firing" him as my doctor because I liked him as a person. But it was evident to me that he didnt have my best health interest in mind, he was just thinking what he would have done if it was his foot. Not a good way to practice medicine if you ask me!
If this country ever goes to a universal healthcare system like Canada or the UK or the numerous other ones in the world...our medical care will get a whole lot worse. --- People often covet what they "think" they want and don't bother to educate themselves about the realities. I was once very naive about universal healthcare too...like so many others. Until my friend...an American living and working in the UK...enlightened me. She could neither choose her own doctors NOR could she elect to pay out of pocket for a doctor she did want to see. --- Canada routinely sends patients to the US because they don't have the facilities to properly care for things such as babies requiring intensive neo-natal care.
There are certainly improvements to be made in our healthcare system, but universal healthcare is not it.
I read that article on CNN web page. I used the same Doctor that took care of my Mum. It was easy she was in my plan. We had a good relationship for many years. When I starting to wake up about my choices in personal health, I began to question some things. The last time I went into her office was two years ago. She had changed it, all chairs around the wall, sliding window you sign your self in and wait. The I noticed that she was doing other thing. Like Diabetic management. She was GP and now this. The year before she put me on blood pressure medication. When I got back there the nurse said that I need blood work, and EKG. Ok! It had been a year. Then I had to do some other test and x-rays. I saw my Doctor for ten minutes. I did my co-pay and then got a bill for $312.00 buck that my insurance would not pay for these extra test. I call and protested. I did pay it. Slowly very slowly. Then I got hurt at home, on a weekend. Yeo., was taking me to the ER. I said take me to a Care center that I saw that was on the way home from work. They are open on the weekends. They took me right in, and they were on my insurance plan. My co-pay was less. They took good care of me and call me the next day to see how I was and referred me to a new Doctor in my plan to check out my hurt shoulder. I now use them for everything. I needed a physical for work, and got it there. The question they kept asking is why are you on these medications? I found out I didn’t need them. So I got a new Doctor one that practices like Dr. Weil. I wrote my former Doctor and fired her. Her office sent me a letter wanting me to sign a malpractice waver. I ran it threw my shredder and sent it back to them. I found out the hard way. Ask questions and then ask again. There are some wonder Doctors out there you just have to hunt sometimes. I also fired my Dentist too!
Misdiagnosis, giving the wrong prescriptions, and telling what me are going to do without consulting me. All have lost a doctor their job with me. I saved myself time, money, and my health by moving on.
I also agree with Mom2giqm. Another example of socializing medicine occurred with the chinese revolution. Accupunture in China was the best in the world, Japan was second. After the revoltuion china socialized their medicine. Now Japan is the best place to in the world for accupunture. One of the major reasons is competition. Socializing their medicine created medicority. The chinese lost what they had and are now playing catch up.
I was in need of dental work and my old dentist just was getting too old and had to retire. He was 81. I found a new one and thought everything was fine. Then I had two jaw teeth with deep fillings to crack and fall out near the gum line. While wait for my appointment I had another one the crack and shear off at an angle. The two at the gum line he referred me to a surgeon. $2,200.00 to take them out. My dentist wanted to a root canal and restoration on the other. $1,900.00 ball park. I knew the local dental college had an intern clinic. I was in no pain so I got in. The short of it is they took out all 3 for $18.00 per tooth. I had 4 implants, 3 new crowns, 1 gold inlay, and replaced all my old fillings with new material. Plus I get cleanings for $25.00 I have been doing this work for last three years. Outside the school $20 grand, in the school $6,400.00 and they help me file on my insurance and I get about ½ back. I have state of the art and instructors that are guiding the students in every way. I have help graduated three students so far. What great once your in the program you can stay in the program if you wish
Years ago I worked with a group of women who all had GI problems (ulcers, spastic colon, etc.). They all went to the same GI doc. Funny thing was, every time one of them went to see this MD, he did a breast exam. I couldn't believe not one of them questioned him as to why the breast exam, and why he did one every visit. Once they started questioning him, he quit doing the exams. I also had a friend that slipped on her hardwood floors and hit her throat on her piano. The resident in the ED wanted to do a pelvic exam. THINK people! ALWAYS question your care/caregiver.
When it comes to your health or the health of your love ones… always ask questions. It is true there is no perfect answer. However, you need to ask questions. When I hurt my shoulder, one doctor wanted to admit me and do corrective surgery. I said I have to get a second opinion for my insurance. I went to another and he said lets keep checking it and see if it heals like it should. 98% of the time they do. I was also informed by the second doctor that recovery time would be about 18 months with surgery. I am still recovering with out surgery and doing physical therapy. Dr. Weil said that the body many times giving the proper nutrition and rest, it will heal it self.