tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post115256569784814413..comments2023-12-11T08:19:00.272-05:00Comments on DoctorMama: Dropping BallsDoctorMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05187502628715846144noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1153931700085399852006-07-26T12:35:00.000-04:002006-07-26T12:35:00.000-04:00As just a plain ol' person who has recently stumbl...As just a plain ol' person who has recently stumbled across your blog, I thank you for your honesty. It is refreshing to hear a doctor humble enough to admit overlooking a thing or two. I nearly died after the birth of my second child because of something my OB/GYN missed, but would never own up to. So I do appreciate your honesty and your willingness to admit that you are, in fact, human and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1153088660507005332006-07-16T18:24:00.000-04:002006-07-16T18:24:00.000-04:00Any human is going to have a non-zero failure rate...Any human is going to have a non-zero failure rate. I think that's something that we as a society just haven't admitted about people we put in positions where they have to make life or death decisions (doctors, policemen, soldiers, etc.). I think the solutions are to put safety nets in place (but not silly ones like flagging abnormal results that you have to ignore; that's like having red lights bjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039714511351901856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152849177872545662006-07-13T23:52:00.000-04:002006-07-13T23:52:00.000-04:00I'd say I wished you were my doctor, but that migh...I'd say I wished you were my doctor, but that might come off sounding a little, err, off, so let's just say, I wish my doctor were more like you.Feral Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08456760046606299779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152824131144519752006-07-13T16:55:00.000-04:002006-07-13T16:55:00.000-04:00I have great empathy. I too am in a profession whe...I have great empathy. I too am in a profession where I am often operating without a safety net and I fear making a mistake. Of course, I am human and I make mistakes. It's not an easy thing to live with.brewerburnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10194810403975358325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152762556457743262006-07-12T23:49:00.000-04:002006-07-12T23:49:00.000-04:00I think we all know and accept that docs make mist...I think we all know and accept that docs make mistakes. We just hope it won't be with us. Or lifethreatening....<BR/><BR/>On malpractice and insurance companies -- I saw a doc for a physical and he never even had me get undressed. Looked in my eyes, took my BP told me to eat better and get more excercise. I got a whopping bill which I refused to pay until they could send me paperwork proving amusinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347183179627696626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152757523695767922006-07-12T22:25:00.000-04:002006-07-12T22:25:00.000-04:00I firmly believe that most Americans spend more ti...I firmly believe that most Americans spend more time researching their next car purchase than they do their own healthcare, and it appalls me. Any competent adult patient should be ashamed to not do the barest bit of due diligence when they're prescribed a med, or at least read the freaking paperwork the pharmacy staples to the bag. ASK the doc. ASK the pharmacist. USE the internet, do something.Northwoods Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122254527523776874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152750718055214352006-07-12T20:31:00.000-04:002006-07-12T20:31:00.000-04:00like you, in my nursing practice I hate it when I ...like you, in my nursing practice I hate it when I miss something. Like you also, I graduated with honors from one of the best nursing programs in the state but like you said, it doesn't mean we don't make mistakes. Thank goodness we have those safeguards set up to catch things we sometimes might miss. <BR/>This was a great entry. I appreciate your transparency. IMHO, it is what makes you a good Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868536354957624922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152744993999103732006-07-12T18:56:00.000-04:002006-07-12T18:56:00.000-04:00I thought of something today that I wanted to tell...I thought of something today that I wanted to tell you, but I wasn't home at the time. What do you suppose it was about?Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152705597179705742006-07-12T07:59:00.000-04:002006-07-12T07:59:00.000-04:00As a fellow physician, I so hear you. I NEVER want...As a fellow physician, I so hear you. I NEVER want to be tired, distracted, forgetful, etc, anything that would leave me open to make an error. But I'm human, and I have...fortunately nothing serious (along the lines of filing lab tests as well). I agree with the other posters--openness and honesty with patients is paramount. However, patients ARE partners in their healthcare as well. <BR/>AnywayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152646670891252122006-07-11T15:37:00.000-04:002006-07-11T15:37:00.000-04:00You're a terrible doctor! I'm so glad you don't pr...You're a terrible doctor! I'm so glad you don't practice in my city.<BR/><BR/>;-)<BR/><BR/>Admitting mistakes to your patients up front will, of course, go a long way toward preventing anyone from ever wanting to sue you for malpractice. It's the docs who won't apologize, won't own up to it, and pass the buck who get sued—clinical skills and keen attention are crucial, of course, but so is not Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152644074273298472006-07-11T14:54:00.000-04:002006-07-11T14:54:00.000-04:00DoctorMama, I don't know how many people expect...DoctorMama, <BR/> I don't know how many people expect Dr's to be perfect, it certaibly is not a logical expectation.<BR/> For me, the fact that you told both these patients that you made a mistake makes all the difference in the world.<BR/> I don't need a doctor to be perfect, but I do need one to be straight and honest with me. Honest about me and honest about themselves.<BR/> that's my 2 Paticushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04412270073568754882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152640902504504602006-07-11T14:01:00.000-04:002006-07-11T14:01:00.000-04:00Ugh. This is why I prefer to use a pharmacist that...Ugh. This is why I prefer to use a pharmacist that is an actual pharmacist and not a counter-jockey at a chain store. :) I remember being a kid, and having my pharmacist catch errors and take extra time to talk to us about the different issues that medications could have, etc. <BR/><BR/>Doctors are great, but they're human. It's nice having an extra layer of precaution in place at the pharmacistsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152639173873694792006-07-11T13:32:00.000-04:002006-07-11T13:32:00.000-04:00Unless you are a true believer, no one is omniscie...Unless you are a true believer, no one is omniscient or omnipotent. The only one who doesn't make mistakes is the one who does nothing. The safety nets you refer to are illusory, no one has figured a way to legislate or ensure perfection. The best you can hope for is to take your best shot, and if you succeed, know where your self-esteem and hope comes from in future similar situations. If you Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152630012368823582006-07-11T11:00:00.000-04:002006-07-11T11:00:00.000-04:00your honesty is much appreciated. and it is normal...your honesty is much appreciated. and it is normal to feel bad when we make mistakes, i think the best part of it is it makes us more cautious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152626308087692322006-07-11T09:58:00.000-04:002006-07-11T09:58:00.000-04:00On the meds . . . ideally the docs would catch con...On the meds . . . ideally the docs would catch contraindications, but in the end isn't part of pharmacist's purpose to catch these things? I worked for a couple IV therapy companies and the pharmacists I worked with would've slit thier wrists if they'd dispensed that drug combination. Really. They were super-anal perfectionist types and they would flip out if a box of supplies was packed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152623540261525702006-07-11T09:12:00.000-04:002006-07-11T09:12:00.000-04:00I second (or third, or twentieth) everyone who sai...I second (or third, or twentieth) everyone who said that your awareness and acknowledgement of your own falliability makes you a much better practitioner than an absence of mistakes would - anyone who claims to be mistake-free, especially in a highly-demanding, highly-stressful profession, especially when working in a healthcare system which is deeply flawed in ways - well, that person is either thumbscre.wshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626759468694284273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152604491035938672006-07-11T03:54:00.000-04:002006-07-11T03:54:00.000-04:00Coming out of lurkdome to share that as a former n...Coming out of lurkdome to share that as a former nurse, I think the facts that you admitted it to the patients, and that you care make you a great doctor. There are many out there that do neither.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152603253141130082006-07-11T03:34:00.000-04:002006-07-11T03:34:00.000-04:00Wow, for me, that was really good information abou...Wow, for me, that was really good information about the seizure disorder thing. I would be interested to know the name of the pain med. My son has petit mal epilepsy, and takes Lamictal. When he was prescribed a drug for something else, the pharmacist acted like I was being stupid for asking about interactions/exacerbation of seizures, etc. but after struggling for a year to get it under Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152594894337255022006-07-11T01:14:00.000-04:002006-07-11T01:14:00.000-04:00Patients (and their advocates, in an applicable si...Patients (and their advocates, in an applicable situation) are your partners regarding their care. I understand that you're not blaming the patients you mention for not catching what they could regarding the two issues, but I also feel that these are adults you're treating, and it's your responsibility to help them, not parent them.wixlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04006287158349338265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152582993672396422006-07-10T21:56:00.000-04:002006-07-10T21:56:00.000-04:00This is an incredibly brave post. One of your best...This is an incredibly brave post. One of your best qualities is to meet things head on and not flinch from unpleasant truths. However, I join the chorus in saying you are being way too hard on yourself. As you said, neither of these put your patients in any real danger. At the same time I can understand why you would find it hard to forgive yourself, given how much you care. All of this makes youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152582789575846502006-07-10T21:53:00.000-04:002006-07-10T21:53:00.000-04:00Sounds like you are incredibly conscientious and c...Sounds like you are incredibly conscientious and caring.<BR/><BR/>Can you let your nurses be one level of screening for you? I know I (an RN, soon to be a nurse practitioner) often flag things for my doctors who might not look at them a second time otherwise (and in oncology, we definitely see TONS of "normal abnormals"). <BR/><BR/>The amount of paperwork that flies across doctors' desks is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152582570724230832006-07-10T21:49:00.000-04:002006-07-10T21:49:00.000-04:00It was refreshing for me, as a pharmacist, to hear...It was refreshing for me, as a pharmacist, to hear a doctor admit to being fallible. Although, my first thought when you talked about the patient with seizure disorders, was why his pharmacist didn't catch it. However, we both know how many problems there are in the systems.<BR/><BR/>I'm very curious, are you familiar with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (www.ismp.org). Great Kristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401725929395230941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152577613111873032006-07-10T20:26:00.000-04:002006-07-10T20:26:00.000-04:00I think the flaw is in our medical system- its one...I think the flaw is in our medical system- its one of the most antiquated businesses in existence. The IOM has been all over the medical errors issue and while progress is being made, its turtle slow. In the computer/Internet/wi-fi era, there really is no excuse not to have pharmacies linked to medical records linked to flags re: serious contraindications. Its not rocket science, but it requires Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152575315953151152006-07-10T19:48:00.000-04:002006-07-10T19:48:00.000-04:00i hope the guy who got the opoid prescription also...i hope the guy who got the opoid prescription also got some tips on stool softeners. ;)<BR/><BR/>i've been a dentist for 25 years. so far no complaints and no law suits.<BR/><BR/>i think it's to do with active listening, sincerely caring, explanations and not rushing. i don't comprehend how any dentist can treat 3 patients at the same time. multitasking doesn't work. and people are not cows Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15583952.post-1152574106522842912006-07-10T19:28:00.000-04:002006-07-10T19:28:00.000-04:00Meh. As long as none of your patients are current...Meh. As long as none of your patients are currently pulling cotton balls (er, "cotton-ball-like objects") out of two-week old incisions you're okay in my book. And amen to the props on admission of fallibility--my doctor is STILL trying to convince me that there's no way I had any cotton balls or cotton-ball-like objects in my abdomen, or that if I did HE didn't leave them there. Only problemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com