Posted by seldomseen on December 8, 2007, at 19:00:27
In reply to A fascinating story on CNN about healthcare, posted by ClearSkies on December 6, 2007, at 17:31:38
That poor patient. She really is fishing in the pond I call "the dark ages of modern medicine" - all things neurological.
Frankly, I just don't think medicine is very good (yet) at understanding the brain, what controls consciousness, psychiatry, and the complex interplay between our brain and body.
I think the patient advocates are correct about a lot of things: watch for the IQ drop at the doctor, find a doctor you trust to spearhead your cause, and trust yourself. I mean after all, you've been living with this body your whole life - ultimately you are the expert.
However, they should have advised her to seek the aid of a medical diagnostician. Although they are rare, they usually practice at medical schools and teaching universities. The place where I work has a team of them.
Also, I think a patient should go to the doctor in good faith and with realistic expectations. A patient can absolutely expect the physician to do them no harm. I also think they can expect the physician to aid in their recovery in the best and most appopriate fashion.
But I think realistically physicians are just that - aids in our recovery whether it be from cancer, depression or a broken ankle. In fact, when dealing with a complicated issue, it is very unlikely that a trip to the doctor will "cure" me.
Unfortunately I've learned, there is no magic pill (although I was very very lucky in that prozac is pretty darn close). Physicians like "House" on the Fox network simply don't exist(and even he almost always just about lets the patient die before curing them).
Physicians should be there to help, but they are only human.
Seldom.
poster:seldomseen
thread:799190
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071204/msgs/799608.html