| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kenny V |
Posted - 02/13/2012 : 11:19:42
Here is an interseting article
Dishonest doctors: Why physicians lie
By Dr. Otis Brawley, Special to CNN
Sat February 11, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/11/health/dishonest-doctors-survey-brawley/index.html?iref=obnetwork
Editor's note: CNN conditions expert Dr. Otis Webb Brawley is the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, a world-renowned cancer expert and a practicing oncologist. He is also the author of the book, "How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America."
(CNN) -- The doctor-patient relationship is a complex one.
It occurs at a stressful and busy time for both the patient and the doctor. Because it involves at least two humans, there are usually at least three versions of the conversation: the doctor's, the patient's and the true version.
A survey published this week in the journal Health Affairs reflects this complex relationship. Lisa Iezzoni and her colleagues surveyed 1,891 physicians nationwide about how honest they are with their patients regarding medical mistakes and a patient's prognosis.
The survey found that although two-thirds of doctors agree they should share serious medical errors with their patients, one-third did not completely agree. Nearly two-fifths of the respondents said they did not disclose their financial relationships with drug and device companies. And more than 55% of physicians said they often or sometimes described a patient's prognosis in a more positive manner than the facts might support.
These survey results are unsettling. We all want to think of medicine as an honorable profession and that the people in it work with integrity.
While we should all be appalled that a doctor would deceive or lie to a patient, we should also look beyond the white coat for an explanation. While it is not a vindication, the fact is physicians are human. They have all the feelings and failings of humans.
Please keep in mind, medical errors can be due to negligence, but they are more often a failure to analyze data appropriately.
Many doctor errors are simply a matter of bad luck: The doctor was not good enough that day and would have done better the day before or the day after. Some bad outcomes are not really the physician's fault.
Some doctors do not admit error out of fear of litigation. But my experience is that the discomfort of addressing one's own failings or weakness is more commonly the reason for not coming forward.
It is a normal human tendency to not want to admit an error. Confession is difficult, especially when you have to admit responsibility to the person you have hurt.
In the case of a "bad luck" outcome, the physician may be unwilling to admit their lack of control. This is often due to a lack of communication during the consenting process -- when doctors explain the possible outcomes or side effects -- and can lead to patient anger when things go badly.
Ironically, when I have seen a doctor admit an error, the patient or patient's family is usually forgiving and rarely sues.
So why would a doctor not be honest about a patient's disease or prognosis? This is likely because doctors are not always the best communicators. Medical explanations involve defining some complicated things. This is difficult and it is often easier to just not do it. Sometimes there is a tendency to simplify to the point of not telling the truth.
It is unfortunate that our medical system pays doctors handsomely to do medical procedures, but does not reimburse well for talking to, counseling and spending time with patients.
In a normal office environment, a physician is often forced to see four or more patients per hour. Questions go unanswered or half answered as the physician moves from room to room assessing the patient, reading a patient's history and lab research, documenting and looking things up.
It's a rare private practice physician who can block extra time for a patient with special needs. This can be costly.
Telling a patient bad news is horribly difficult. It is always an emotional struggle for any caring human being. The emotional incentive is to hold back information or be less than honest. It is harder for me to tell a patient that they are dying -- and that all we can reasonably do is try to keep them comfortable -- than it is to tell a family member that a patient has died.
As someone who studies how health care is provided and how health care is consumed, this survey's findings do not surprise me and the solutions are not simple.
We need to transform health care. This involves empowering the patient. Patients need to take an interest in their own health. Ask good questions and expect if not demand answers. Some patients will need advocates or navigators to help them.
The transformation also involves more members of the medical profession coming to realize the meaning of the term "profession." A "profession" is a group of people who put their own interests secondary to the interests of the people they serve. A profession is also a group that educates and polices itself.
My greatest concern is many doctors and patients fail to comprehend just how complicated medicine can be.
Even doctors fail to remember that medicine is a science and an art, often with unclear answers. There are things in medicine that are scientifically known, and things that are unknown. There are also things that are believed.
The wise physician draws a distinction between the three. The unwise doctor often confuses what he believes with what he knows. These unwise doctors may not know they are not telling their patients the truth.
Always Hope For Recovery
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| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kenny V |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 08:33:38
quote:
Originally posted by yogaluz
All medical students, alongside their anatomy and microbiology courses, should be taught how to connect with patients on an emotional level. I have relatives who are physicians and they've told me they didn't receive any of this type of instruction and yet they believe over 50% of the patients they see are more in need of counseling than physician's treatment. Doctors should be taught to look for signs of psychogenic disorders and how to communicate with patients about treatment options. The inability to share 'bad news' with patients points to this same hole in the physician's education.
I'll chime in here about Mercola too. While I think on occasion he shares some good information, he's mostly in the business of terrifying people who are looking to him and his site for information on how to heal. For us TMSers, we know that blaming disease exclusively on external factors that we have often have little control over (fluoride, x-rays, air travel on and on and on) as Mercola does, only perpetuates the fear cycle. Mercola.com is NOT a great website for people with TMS/ health anxiety and I agree that he's the worst sort of 'healer' out there - instilling fear and then selling a pill or shake or shampoo or whatever to allay those fears.
pain is inevitable, suffering optional
I will pretty much agree with you on that one. After medical School Many docs don’t know how to think for themselves. They stroke the pen, run a test and recommend a treatment option that is based on whats written in the little book in they’re front pocket.
The rest is what we call practicing medicine. This is referring more so to the typical MD (medical dummy) not all…. but most of them. One major problem is they were NOT trained in general nutrition and know how to read context clues. Plus they were programmed to prescribe the mainstream approach right out of Med. Scholl. No excuse but they don’t know any better, so they practice medicine based on treating the symptom rather then the underlying condition.
However there are some PHD’s DO’s, and PO’s that think more out side the box. They listen to the patient while recommending a treatment option based on experience and common sense. Rather than what may be the popular drug treatment of choice for that going season. One reason lots of folks continue to chase their symptoms and deal with a host of side effects is from what they are currently being treated with.
JMHO if docs learned how to treat/ learn conditions and took the time to apply a whole body treatment approach more folks wouldn’t be mis- diagnosed. My bet is 45% of the daily doctor return visits would have gotten better dealing with nutritional changes. In addition about 85% of their patients dealing with stress related illnesses would be helped. But that again would depend if the doctor offered stress management and therapy along with managing control over their ongoing symptoms.
It does not happen often that a Doc applies a whole body diagnoses. It requires a very smart doctor who is knowledgeable in many areas about many conditions. He would need to, create a time line and begin applying a multifaceted approach. Most docs don’t have the time or the resources to do so. However we need not forget the emotional makeup , daily stress and past traumas of the patient. We all know that’s not going to happen in a typical 20-30 min office visit.
As far as the Mercola topic. The information is free to learn an alternative approach and perspective in lieu of mainstream medicine. We are not obligated to buy his supplements, nor do we have to agree with everything he says. For one I don’t, but also don’t think he is all about the money either. Sure we have allot of fears and dangers all around us . We live in a poisoned world. And as technology changes so does the potential dangers . One reason we make healthy choices and decide for ourselves what to expose our bodies too.
Hey Remember what the Late Jack La Lane use to say “ If man made it, don’t eat it !!! or put it on or inside your body” And just because he promoted good health and nutrition don’t force me to go to his fitness centers or buy his juicers to live a healthier life. Jmho that is all common sense from a healthier perspective.
My Best
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
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| yogaluz |
Posted - 02/20/2012 : 09:56:52
All medical students, alongside their anatomy and microbiology courses, should be taught how to connect with patients on an emotional level. I have relatives who are physicians and they've told me they didn't receive any of this type of instruction and yet they believe over 50% of the patients they see are more in need of counseling than physician's treatment. Doctors should be taught to look for signs of psychogenic disorders and how to communicate with patients about treatment options. The inability to share 'bad news' with patients points to this same hole in the physician's education.
I'll chime in here about Mercola too. While I think on occasion he shares some good information, he's mostly in the business of terrifying people who are looking to him and his site for information on how to heal. For us TMSers, we know that blaming disease exclusively on external factors that we have often have little control over (fluoride, x-rays, air travel on and on and on) as Mercola does, only perpetuates the fear cycle. Mercola.com is NOT a great website for people with TMS/ health anxiety and I agree that he's the worst sort of 'healer' out there - instilling fear and then selling a pill or shake or shampoo or whatever to allay those fears.
On a more positive note, I'm reading Norman Cousin's book "Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient" and he speaks to the physician/patient relationship as well. He attributes much of his success in healing to the fact that his physician listened to him and allowed Cousins to be a driver in his own healing protocol which included laughter in large doses. He also discusses the power of the placebo and its use by physicians who understand that power. This book has been mentioned on this site many times and I'm so glad I picked it up - it's the antidote to Mercola's philosophy. Cousin's story and philosophy puts the power of healing back in the hands and mind of the patient with the help of well-rounded physicians who fully understand the mind/body connection and who empower those patients.
pain is inevitable, suffering optional |
| kenny V |
Posted - 02/20/2012 : 07:54:10
Originally posted by kenny V quote:
I agree in what you are saying and don’t want to get into debate. So I Will say as with anything else we all need to do further study and investigate not take ONE reference as gospel. As far as I am concerned Dr. Mercola has allot of info that is valuable. Also one may note that he gets a bad wrap and attacked like many other good guys that exposes the truth
JMHO Many of these guys will always get attacked from a mainstream agenda or big phamra (Billion $$$dollar $$$ industry) that promotes drugs to cover up a symptom rather than treat the underlying condition.
And here is one latest article that once again exposes the truth.
FYI Following are references for further study if anyone is interested
This Revolting Practice Targets Poor Unsuspecting People First - And You Next
Posted By Dr. Mercola | February 19 2012
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/19/drug-company-lies-and-uses-human-as-guinea-pigs.aspx?e_cid=20120219_SNL_Art_1
Exert quote:
One of the most frustrating characteristics of multi-national drug corporations is their commitment to the corporate mantra of maximizing profits for their shareholders at any cost, including that of human lives.
The testing of dangerous drugs and vaccines on children is an area that is particularly risk-filled...
The Nuremberg Code provides ethical guidelines for medical researchers to protect human test subjects in scientific experiments from injury, disability or death.
The first principle of the Nuremberg Code—that doctors must obtain voluntary informed consent from the person about to be experimented on—appears to be frequently ignored, especially when it comes to clinical trials of experimental vaccines
Exert
quote:
In recent news, the Argentinean Federation of Health Professionals accused GlaxoSmithKline of misleading participants and pressuring impoverished, disadvantaged families into enrolling their children in clinical trials of the experimental Synflorix pediatric pneumonia vaccine.
Fourteen of the children participating in the experimental vaccine trial died. Glaxo Smith Kline denies the charges and says it will appeal the nearly $240,000 fine imposed on the company and two doctors. According to CNNii:
"The deaths of 14 children, who reportedly died after participating in the trials, have drawn widespread attention in Argentinean media... GlaxoSmithKline categorically denies that the vaccine caused the deaths... But the health professional federation pointed to the children's deaths in its call for increased regulations on drug testing."
References:
Argentina Fines Drug Company Over Vaccine Trial, CNN,
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/03/world/americas/argentina-drug-company-fined/index.html
Deadly Medicine
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2011/01/deadly-medicine-201101
Follow up further study and investigation
Internet Resources Where You Can Learn More
To learn more about informed consent, the six principles for protecting your vaccine choices, and a summary of the U.S. law pertaining to vaccine exemptions, please review the article, STOP! Read This Before Vaccinating for Anything.
I encourage you to visit the following web pages on the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) website at www.NVIC.org:
NVIC Advocacy Portal:
http://nvicadvocacy.org/members/Home.aspx
Protect vaccine exemptions in YOUR state. Sign up to use the free online Advocacy Portal and stay informed about threats to your legal right to make voluntary vaccine choices so you can take immediate action by contacting your state legislators with the click of a mouse or touch on your SmartPhone screen.
NVIC Memorial for Vaccine Victims:
http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Memorial.aspx
View descriptions and photos of children and adults, who have suffered vaccine reactions, injuries and deaths. If you or your child experiences an adverse vaccine event, please consider posting and sharing your story here.
Always Hope For Recovery
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| Stryder |
Posted - 02/15/2012 : 15:07:36
If some of these PCPs actually delved into their patients entire background they might arrive at the right cause for the problems.
Unfortunately, typical fare for PCP is 10 minutes: 7 minutes to listen/analyze, 2 minutes to diagnose, 1 minute to prescribe. "Next !?!"
Take care, -Stryder |
| Back2-It |
Posted - 02/14/2012 : 16:52:03
quote:
Originally posted by kenny V
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I have found that most doctors mean well, and when somebody comes to them in pain or with another problem, they will do their best to find something, even if that something does not quite explain the symptoms.
What is bordering on dishonest are using "syndromes" like Fibromyalgia and others with no known pathogen or organic cause as the catch-all for emotional problems, anxiety and depression. If some of these PCPs actually delved into their patients entire background they might arrive at the right cause for the problems.
Recently, on the Dr. Mercola site, which I regard as not much more than 21 Century Snake Oil, he featured some doctor that claimed Lyme disease as the cause of almost everything that ails us, and that everybody had the pathogen, though it couldn't quite be identified.
I responded that I believe Lyme Disease is real if you have a tick bite. or suspect it from evidence, but to claim that sneezing transmits the unknown bug is boarding on criminal. I posted such and was beat up pretty bad by most of the posters who had typical anxiety symptoms most.
So was Mercola posting that hogwash a lie or bad judgement? Or both?
With the state of medicine in the US, and with what is coming down the pike, a doctor's knowledge of their patients will decrease even more.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads"
I agree in what you are saying and don’t want to get into debate. So I Will say as with anything else we all need to do further study and investigate not take ONE reference as gospel. As far as I am concerned Dr. Mercola has allot of info that is valuable. Also one may note that he gets a bad wrap and attacked like many other good guys that exposes the truth. Mind you they exposed Web MD not too long ago The #1 website people went to get medical info. They were found falsifying info and diagnosing everyone with depression to promote drug use.
See this post
Health Website is deceiving you
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6533
JMHO
Many of these guys will always get attacked from a mainstream agenda or big phamra (Billion $$$dollar $$$ industry) that promotes drugs to cover up a symptom rather than treat the underlying condition.
As far as Lyme Disease in the last few years that has become one of the most controversial subjects as far as cause and treatment. So again I do not wish to get into debate of its origin and or treatment options. However I will say something from studying some patterns of viruses. You can have a viruses for a little as 72 hours . But also you can have one that lays doormat in your body for most of your life and than you get sick when it is triggered by something. Or can have it manifest when your immune systems defense is down. Sort of like cancer what keeps it in remission ? Or what causes it to go to the next stage out of control?
This is complex in itself. Was it past exposure? Or recent exposure??? Etc…. That alone is tricky to diagnose and treat properly.
My Best
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
Kenny V,
Yes, Mercola does have some good info. I find his hawking of this pill or that to be a big conflict of interest. No matter what the problem, there seems to be a Mercola pill to fix it.
Regarding Lyme, I think that the more Fibro gets recognized as being caused by emotions doctors will search for another culprit.
Medicine is an art, not a science. Some artists are more pure in their approach than others.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads" |
| kenny V |
Posted - 02/14/2012 : 11:07:34
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
I have found that most doctors mean well, and when somebody comes to them in pain or with another problem, they will do their best to find something, even if that something does not quite explain the symptoms.
What is bordering on dishonest are using "syndromes" like Fibromyalgia and others with no known pathogen or organic cause as the catch-all for emotional problems, anxiety and depression. If some of these PCPs actually delved into their patients entire background they might arrive at the right cause for the problems.
Recently, on the Dr. Mercola site, which I regard as not much more than 21 Century Snake Oil, he featured some doctor that claimed Lyme disease as the cause of almost everything that ails us, and that everybody had the pathogen, though it couldn't quite be identified.
I responded that I believe Lyme Disease is real if you have a tick bite. or suspect it from evidence, but to claim that sneezing transmits the unknown bug is boarding on criminal. I posted such and was beat up pretty bad by most of the posters who had typical anxiety symptoms most.
So was Mercola posting that hogwash a lie or bad judgement? Or both?
With the state of medicine in the US, and with what is coming down the pike, a doctor's knowledge of their patients will decrease even more.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads"
I agree in what you are saying and don’t want to get into debate. So I Will say as with anything else we all need to do further study and investigate not take ONE reference as gospel. As far as I am concerned Dr. Mercola has allot of info that is valuable. Also one may note that he gets a bad wrap and attacked like many other good guys that exposes the truth. Mind you they exposed Web MD not too long ago The #1 website people went to get medical info. They were found falsifying info and diagnosing everyone with depression to promote drug use.
See this post
Health Website is deceiving you
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6533
JMHO
Many of these guys will always get attacked from a mainstream agenda or big phamra (Billion $$$dollar $$$ industry) that promotes drugs to cover up a symptom rather than treat the underlying condition.
As far as Lyme Disease in the last few years that has become one of the most controversial subjects as far as cause and treatment. So again I do not wish to get into debate of its origin and or treatment options. However I will say something from studying some patterns of viruses. You can have a viruses for a little as 72 hours . But also you can have one that lays doormat in your body for most of your life and than you get sick when it is triggered by something. Or can have it manifest when your immune systems defense is down. Sort of like cancer what keeps it in remission ? Or what causes it to go to the next stage out of control?
This is complex in itself. Was it past exposure? Or recent exposure??? Etc…. That alone is tricky to diagnose and treat properly.
My Best
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
|
| tennis tom |
Posted - 02/14/2012 : 07:51:55
quote:
Originally posted by Back2-It
With the state of medicine in the US, and with what is coming down the pike, a doctor's knowledge of their patients will decrease even more.
Yup!
Thanks for the article Kenny. |
| Back2-It |
Posted - 02/14/2012 : 07:27:55
I have found that most doctors mean well, and when somebody comes to them in pain or with another problem, they will do their best to find something, even if that something does not quite explain the symptoms.
What is bordering on dishonest are using "syndromes" like Fibromyalgia and others with no known pathogen or organic cause as the catch-all for emotional problems, anxiety and depression. If some of these PCPs actually delved into their patients entire background they might arrive at the right cause for the problems.
Recently, on the Dr. Mercola site, which I regard as not much more than 21 Century Snake Oil, he featured some doctor that claimed Lyme disease as the cause of almost everything that ails us, and that everybody had the pathogen, though it couldn't quite be identified.
I responded that I believe Lyme Disease is real if you have a tick bite. or suspect it from evidence, but to claim that sneezing transmits the unknown bug is boarding on criminal. I posted such and was beat up pretty bad by most of the posters who had typical anxiety symptoms most.
So was Mercola posting that hogwash a lie or bad judgement? Or both?
With the state of medicine in the US, and with what is coming down the pike, a doctor's knowledge of their patients will decrease even more.
"Bridges Freeze Before Roads" |
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