Comments on: An Open Letter To My Esteemed Doctor Colleagues

By: jaki

jaki — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:52:23 +0000

I know this is old but heres my 2 cents

I remember when I had just been transferred from icu to orthopedics after coming off a motorbike. I had a surgoen come in and tell me he was going to sick a large metal bar through my leg as way of traction. Given everything I had just been through (almost lost my dad) adn teh amount of morphine etc I had pumping through my system I panicked. Apparently whilst under sedation I screamed some rather charming endearments and threw absolutely anything not bolted down at this man. It pays to maybe give a spot of warning as well for any procedure which may be required

By: Think of England

Think of England — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 14:06:50 +0000

I was interested to see a doctor’s eye-view of patient avoidance, here
linked on grand-rounds via instapundit.

Doctors didn’t like explaining things to this patient, because she had a bossy manner, and expected to have a say in her own care.
Nurses and other caregivers didn’t like her trying to be in control, being second guessed by her, either.

These traits caught a mistake, however.

Patients OUGHT to distrust meds and that haven’t been explained by the treating physician.

Patients not only have a right, they have an obligation to know what treatments have been prescribed and why, and to ask questions to make sure something is necessary.

By: cardioNP

cardioNP — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:01:20 +0000

Re: starting a second IV line for the PPI or H2 blocker – Perhaps why many docs don’t explain some of the finer points is that they have *NO IDEA* how things are really carried out. A favorite was when the housestaff would order lactulose enemas! Never let that order get by me – if the gut worked, then that stuff was going in the stomach first!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 22:58:19 +0000

Boy do I ever want to print this out and take it to work with me! The only thing I’d add is this: in a teaching institution, attendings, please make sure that all your residents are on the same page. Please. That way, you won’t have Resident A saying “You *so* need surgery!” and Resident B saying, “Um, no you don’t.” Talk about a look of confusion on the patient’s face!

By: Hospice Guy

Hospice Guy — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:55:44 +0000

I posted on this subject last week at hospice blog. I don’t know the look of weirdness that you are talking about, because in the hospice field it’s more a look of horror when you explain to them for the first time that they are talking to hospice because the doctor thinks they are terminally ill. I’m all for doctors spending more time explaining what happens next to patients. It’s good for me, good for the nurse, and (most importatnly) good for the patient!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 13:49:46 +0000

Yay! for this suggestion. The docs I work(ed) with for the most part did a pretty good job explaining meds/treatments to be administered to the patients. But sometimes they forget, or don’t see the explanation part as a necessary step in their busy shift. I SO know the look of distrust/confusion/bewilderment on the face of a patient when I walk in with an IM injection or IV supplies and the doctor hasn’t told them what’s what. And as for diet, activity, etc… orders, they often leave those little ‘details’ out when explaining to a patient that she is going to be admitted. And yet those ‘details’ are often the most important things to a patient.