A Smart Person Can Survive In Spite of Doctors.

Jack, I don't seem to understand your comment about "affirmative action" and medical advice. You do, of course realize, that medical students must past professional exams at the end of two years of medical school and also after the 4th year, prior to internship.

They also must pass state license examinations as well as specialist exams. These exams are not race or color based. They, moreover, are not scored based on race,color, religion, etc.

Thus, Jack if you find your physician to be incompetent based upon your appraisal of him/her, please find someone else who you think is better suited to your needs and don't blame your
situation on race or affirmative actions.

Jack, I totally agree with you, and believe me, I know whereof I speak.

What do you call someone who graduated last in their class at medical school?

Doctor.

To remain serious about this thread. Medicine is NOT a science; it is an art.

lawyers have a JD, and they can be called Doctor, too. By the way, it makes no difference if you're last in your law school class but pass the Bar. If you're first in your class, but flunk you bar exam, you can't practice law, where the bar is required.

Yes, I know.

Just as medical doctors and psychologists have to pass licensing exams as well.

Some exams are transitive between states, etc.

But the honorary "Doctor" is granted on achieving the degree. So with a J.D. So with a Ph.D. Etc.

Not a science? So why have, for example, a mammogram to check for breast cancer? Why not go to a fortune teller and ask her to appraise the health of your breasts, buy rubbing a glass ball on her table, under a dim candle?

Without modern techology, chemistry, pharmacology, physiology,
or virology for example, where do you think we'd be today.


Recently, a vaccine was developed, to prevent cervical cancer in women . Believe me, art had nothing to do this developemnt.

Letty, of course there are doctors and other medical professionals not worth their salt out their, but they are far outweighed by the doctors, who, although they are mere humans, do their best to treat you, extend your life, and yes, cure you.

Jack posted on another thread earlier today (the middle of the night actually) encouraging sturgis to stop his dialysis treatment and go get a life.

I continue to be appaled by that comment. Jack obviously is obsessing on some knee injury and liposuction, as well as trying to make us aware of what ghastly thing go on during heart bypass surgery.

Have I had a bad experience with a doctor? Sure I have, who hasn't.
In fact, I've fired doctors for not including me in my treatment, and listening to what I have to say.

However, overall I have many more good things to say.

The other day I ran into my husbands cariologist. I assumed he wouldn't even know who I am, since I've personally have only met him during a few of my husbands appointments, when there was really something serious going on, where I wanted to be there. Last time I saw him had to be more than a year ago.

He look at me and said "Hello Mrs. Tea! How's your husband doing? Then he stopped and listened. I'm positive if I had said anything that was troubling, he would have told me to call the office first thing in the morning. Then, after that, he asked about how our remodeling was going, and if we'd taken that vacation over christmas.

Wow, this guy just sounds like a total prick, doesn't he?

As a matter of fact, a long time ago, when he was first diagnosed with V-fib, and had just gotten an icd implanted, my husband called me at work and said, "somethings wrong, come get me" I rushed home then rushed him up to the cardiologists office....just walked in, no appointment.

the staff asked us to wait in an exam room, and as we were sitting there, I could see Dr. V across the hall, having a lunch with everyone. No one had yet told him we were there, and I hadn't expected them to, figuring to had a wait.

Again, Dr. V. looked over and saw us, and came right over to talk, I guess he thought we were early for an appt. When we told him something was wrong, jesus christ, it was like he went into warp 9.

My husband did end up getting admitted, and yes, he did have tests done, and I'm damn glad he did.

The reaction of Dr. V. wasn't about money, or conning someone, it was about practicing medicine the best he can.

For every horror story anyone can tell here, I'm sure there's a dozen people who a happy to be alive.



Drew Dad, I totally agree with your joke, and have used it several times myself....

You know what though, let's give credit where credit is due.

There are some damn fine physicians out there.

....should have been by!

I had to leave the computer and couldn't get back for a correction in time.

Damn straight, it just makes a good joke.

Just as there are good lawyers out there, and good cops, and good everything else.



Except graphic artists.

Odd. I have gotten two, "page not displayed" messages.

Miller I am talking about practicing physicians, not research scientists. I think it was an engineer who created the ekg/ecg machine. Ah, well. It's up to each individual person to determine what is needed and what is not needed. In this day and time, we must be our own doctors, before we visit a doctor.

Didn't know about Jack and Sturgis.

As am ! The radiologist who reads your mammogram, calibrates and oversees radiiological procedures is a physician, not a research scientist.

The physician reads and determines the meanings of the readout of the apparatus though....

In addition, s/he individualizes it to each patients condition.

I don't know what your experiences were Letty, they must have been awful to disparage an entire profession.

Engineers, phyisicans, nursing, dieticians, on and on INCLUDING the patient, are all part of the Health Care Team...EACH have their part.

In this day and age, with the rate of change in the medical field, it's hard to comprehend how it can't be acknowled just how far we have come.

Look up the thread that has recently had a post (from me in answer to the original poster) regarding defibrillators.

Just a few years ago, so many people would have been dead if not for this fairly new device. New medication, new devices...and to hear the medical profession spoken of as if we're in the year 1600 rather than 2006 is shocking.

Personally, I can't wait to learn what tomorrow brings.

"The reaction of Dr. V. wasn't about money, or conning someone, it was about practicing medicine the best he can.

For every horror story anyone can tell here, I'm sure there's a dozen people who a happy to be alive."


I agree wholeheartedly with Chai Teas sentiments here.

I'll agree with others' comments that patients need to inform themselves about issues involving their diagnosis and care.

I think there are probably a lot of easier ways to make money than practicing the art and science of medicine, though there are undoubtedly some md's for whom pulling in dollars is a primary concern that affects their judgement. I just haven't personally known any of those.

Thank You!

Okay. I don't want to belabor the point, but would anyone here say that a teacher who teaches a child to read is a scientist? That is the parallel that I am trying to draw about art and science.

I don't want to go into details about my husband's problems here. Let's just say total mismanagement.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

Didn't you used to call yourself "Letty 2"?

Yes, did you used to be Miller? Look, I'm sorry folks. I just get a little preturbed when I think about looking up and seeing my husband's pace maker hanging out of his chest; down to his knees, and then having the surgeon tell me he pulled it out.

Yes!
Why did you drop the "2"?

Is this medical care typical of what one might expect to receive in the State of Florida?