Blind trust
25 Feb
Through a series of unrelated and unfortunate events over the years, I realized I could not blindly trust my family doctor.
If I’m preaching to the choir today, this may be an obvious fact. Let me hear you say, hallelujah, amen! For others of you, this may be blasphemy. For those still undecided, let me suggest you play a little game the next time you see you doctor for an illness or an injury.
RULES OF THE GAME
1. Notice the time your doctor enters the room.
2. Notice how much time your doctor looks at your chart, particularly your medical history. Particularly notice how much time said doctor reads your medical history before prescribing you a medication.
3. Notice how much time doctor spends advising you of possible side effects of medication he is prescribing. Notice the questions he asks you that would allow him to discover any possible contraindications for taking that medicine, including prior disorders, chronic illness, current and previous conditions ranging from asthma to infertility to insomnia to history of breast cancer, vitamins or herbs you take, other prescription or over-the-counter meds you take, and recreational drugs you enjoy.
4. Notice the time the doctor leaves the room. Calculate how much time doctor spent in the room.
If you think your doctor knows you, you are most likely wrong and in need of a WAKE UP CALL. Most Western-trained, conventional doctors have not been trained to treat you. They have been trained to treat a type. Sometimes you appear to fit into that type, and a doctor will diagnose you as being that type. Then he will treat you as he has been trained to treat that type. And sometimes you’re lucky–the treatment works. And many times you are not lucky. You might not notice the consquences immediately, but someday you will. Stop trusting your doctor like he is your ever-loving, all-knowing, compassionate God. He’s not. He’s human. And he’s only as good as the training he’s had, his perspective on human well-being, and the time he spends knowing you inside and out.
TIPS: Integrative MD. Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). Naturopathic Doctor.
Hallelujah, amen!
Another tip … if you can’t get to or afford an Integrative MD, DO, etc. … at least go for a foreign born doctor. I’ve found them to be much less quick to prescribe and much more willing to entertain and suggest “alternative” therapies.
Interesting, Angela. I’ve never thought about that. That’s good advice. I’d be curious to see/hear if others have experienced the same.
I will tell you I’ve had one experience to the contrary, though. Not naming names but there is a particular doctor my entire extended family sees nearby, and while she is a very nice woman, she is a major drug dealer. Meaning: You have a stuffy nose? Here, have some Cipro. A little acid indigestion, try Prevacid. Here’s a sample. She’s eastern european.
And I will add that the other obvious and less expensive tip is to be your own advocate. If you need to stick with a particular doctor (though I’d question that “need”), remember that you have the right to ask questions, to take as much time as you need to get those questions answered, and that your intuition is something you should trust and honor.
One last reply because I feel guilty not mentioning with more than a “tip.” I am extremely fortunate to have met some incredible MDs who have supported me and my family in our quest for well-being. They DO happen to be integrative physicians with conventional training, but whom have complemented their training with additional studies in alternative therapies and treatment. Kudos to these men and women who choose to practice a type of medicine that’s not necessarily the easiest or most profitable in our society.