Comments on: Sad sad sad/Unresponsive doctors

By: Chris Rangel MD

Chris Rangel MD — Sat, 15 Mar 2003 00:27:23 +0000

Sounds like too many cooks in the kitchen! There is a tendency when so many specialists are involved in a case to “pass the buck”. There is also a tendency for physicians to get frustrated in a case that appears to defy attempts to get at a diagnosis. They respond by throwing up their hands and “signing off” the case. In such a situation the primary care doctor should have taken charge. In the very least he/she should have attempted to contact the cardiologist himself! Was the primary a hospitalist? I hope not.

By: Kaylin

Kaylin — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 00:10:11 +0000

Thank goodness when I was transfered to the Infantry Unit from the Med Coy, I had trained the Senior Staff to actually LISTEN to what I had to say when it came to my medical opinion (Being the ONLY Med A with the Unit, I -WAS- medical authority until someone else came on the scene with higher training than I.) Sometimes higher authority just could not understand what was going on. There were times I would get so frustrated when I had to take troops in for sick parade because -I- thought the higher medical staff were being completely absent minded when I came to troop health. Glad there ARE Nurses out there who have the balls to second guess and re-check orders that seem off or seem to endanger the patient.

By: Iain Sharp

Iain Sharp — Mon, 10 Mar 2003 13:47:59 +0000

As always a fascinating insight in to the medical profession. The treatment of doctors as mini-dictators in medicine is one of the worst and oddest aspects of the culture for me. As an engineer I am trained to take all significant decisions in consulation with other people, and to listen to their concerns before acting. Why aren’t doctors trained the same way?

By: BeerMary

BeerMary — Mon, 10 Mar 2003 11:05:55 +0000

Thank you for providing a great example of why I get so pissed off when the doctors are condescending to nurses! I can’t tell you how many patients I’ve “saved” from their doctors. Yet I struggle and work two jobs, and the doctors get rich and treat nurses like they’re stupid.

Makes me value the “good” doctors all the more.