E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSBy MyHealthNewsDaily staff
MyHealthNewsDaily
Everybody lies — even doctors.
"Our findings raise concerns that some patients might not receive complete and accurate information from their physicians," the researchers write in the February issue of the journal Health Affairs. The findings also question whether patient-centered care — which is a philosophy of medicine that respects the preferences, needs and values of patients — is possible without more openness and honesty, the researchers from Harvard Medical School said.
While the ultimate effect of such untruths is not known, they could make patients "less able to make health care decisions that reflect their values and goals," the researchers said.
To be fair, the researchers acknowledged not knowing the circumstances under which physicians lied, and communication regarding health issues can be complex. Physicians must often wade through conflicting and confusing information as a case goes on. Telling a patient something that turns out to be wrong might not be helpful, the researchers said.
More research is needed to better understand when and why physicians feel justified in a lapse of honesty.
Dr. Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist at the University of Pennsylvania and msnbc.com contributor, told the Associated Press that to withhold a mistake is "inexcusable," adding that a physician's "care now has to be different because of what happened."
In a poll for msnbc.com, Truth On Call asked 100 physicians, including those in family practice, cardiologists and neurosurgeons if they've ever kept a serious medical mistake from a patient. Twenty one percent admitted they kept an error from the patient, 55 percent say they disclosed the mistake and 24 percent say they've never made a serious medical error.
In fact, 55 percent said that they had "described a patient’s prognosis in a more positive manner than warranted," in the last year, and about 28 percent said they had "intentionally or unintentionally revealed to an unauthorized person health information about one of [their] patients."
In addition, about 35 percent of doctors did not agree with the statement that physicians should " disclose financial relationships with drug and device companies to heir patients."
Women and minority physicians were more likely than white, male doctors to say they agreed with the principles of honesty and openness, according to the study. This may be because, as underrepresented groups in medicine, women and minorities feel more compelled to comply with such professional codes, the researchers wrote.
Some physicians might not tell their patients the whole truth because they don’t want to upset them, worry them or cause them to lose hope, the researchers said.
"Especially in the context of life-threatening illness, physicians might not tell patients the complete truth because of lack of training, time limitations, uncertainty about prognostic accuracy, family requests and feelings of inadequacy about their medical interventions," the researchers said.
Some physicians may also wonder about revealing errors when no harm came of them. However, studies show that "informing patients fully about medical errors can reduce anger and lessen patients’ interest in bringing malpractice lawsuits," the researchers said.
Have you ever felt like your doctor hasn't been honest with you? Tell us on Facebook.
Read more Vitals -- it's good for you!
Leave a Comment:
Most doctors don't spend enough time with you to know the truth. The average time my doctor spends with me is maybe 10 minutes and often less than five. America has good health care ONLY if you are rich enough to get their attention.
For a doctor to lie is the lowest of the low and for them to lie for profit is criminal. However the pharmaceutical companies love them for their lack of morals and ethics.
I agree to lie for a profit is wrong and when it comes to need to know for appropriate care physicians should tell the truth.
But what about the 80 yo elderly Alzheimer patient who gets ready at night to join her husband on a date. She's all excited and doesn't want to eat dinner because her husband is picking her up in an hour. As her physician you know that her husband died 20 years ago and she can't remember so does this same thing several times a week. When told the truth she becomes so upset, argumentative, and aggressive that it takes the rest of the night to calm her down. Then a couple of nights later she does the same thing again.
Being that omission is by many moral standards a lie, would you tell her the truth knowing that she won't remember and it causes her such emotional and physical turmoil?
Not saying what should or should not be said, just saying that not everything is always so black and white when it comes to telling the truth to patients. As a rule though, I do make it my policy to be as honest with patients as possible.
I can't recall ever lying for profit. I don't think there's a situation where I would profit from lying to someone.
You want to know why your doc only spends 10 minutes with you? Ask him to tell you how much he gets paid by Medicare and Medicaid to take care of people. My doc told me he gets the princely sum of $85 or so a MONTH per patient. It costs him $58 per patient to cover administrative costs. They come once a month, he does OK, they come twice, he's in the hole cost wise. Three times, he's losing big time. How often do you hear the elderly go to the doctor a month? In my parents case it is 3+ visits a month at 82+ years old. Trust me, the average doc isn't making much of a profit after they pay staff, office rent, and malpractice insurance, which averages $35K or more a year. Really, next time ask them what they make and you'll get all the doc time you want while they explain the reaming they take from insurance companies.
In and out and in and out and Who the f~ are you.
Pirateslife has it right. For the amount of training they receive, doctors are, by far, the most underpaid profession. 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, at least 3 years of residency (during which they make ~50k a year, or minimum wage if you count the hours...), and sometimes an addition 1-4 years of fellowship. The average doctor STARTS with over 250k in student loans! A family practisioner makes around 130-150k, and a smaller percentage than you would think make over 250k, all while working very long and often irregular hours. Given their knowledge and the service they provide society, doctors are unquestionably the most underpaid profession.
luvenia48, well said.
Medicine is a business - first.
The care and well-being of a patient is secondary.
What is the first question a patient hears..."what kind of insurance you have?"
When I was in fourth grade, I discovered my mother's old college books. A book called "Microbe Hunters" talked about Lister and Pasteur. The doctors of the time knew nothing of germs. They would dissect rotting bodies and go into the wards of the hospital without washing their hands. People died like fries from infections caused by this. Lister came up with a sterilizing, hand washing procedure and demonstrated that it worked at one hospital. Most doctors scoffed at the idea that there was something that couldn't be seen that would make people sick and went as far as to refuse to clean their hands. With a lot of doctors, not much has changed.
Knock on wood, I've never been seriously ill. I've been reasonably satisfied with my HMO but made sure to get a female dr who treats me like a person and doesn't call me "dear" and treats me like a child (I have a Master's degree and am not totally stupid), like some of the male doctor's I've had in the past. (the old Medical Deity syndrome). At times they rush me in and out pretty fast, but, generally, she (the doc) seems knowledgeable and shows the appropriate amount of concern. However, in the past I've received careless and down-right stupid treatment that could have warranted some serious complaints. Choose your doctor carefully, bring a list of complaints if need be, repeat yourself if he/she doesn't "get it," and keep in mind that even though they have gone to school for a long time, some doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class and even those in the top half don't know everything. Last but not least, if you have no confidence in your doctor, change to a different one if possible.
Yet another article to get the masses in an uproar. My husband is a family practitioner, and they are required to provide a computer-generated "in writing diagnosis" to their patients before they leave the office -- so there is "no room" for providing a "white lie." I'm really offended by this to be honest. Additionally, my husband specializes in geriatrics; the more complicated patients as they have more combined illnesses and are on more meds. He will not allow his office to schedule those patients for LESS than 30 minutes. Yes, he loses "productivity" by doing this, but, his priority is his patients.
For those that are squeeling about a 10-minute appointment. When you make your appointment and then state it's for the flu, and then you get out your "laundry list" of what else ails you, then you have to make another appointment. If you were "honest" and not telling your little "white lie" then maybe the doctor can treat the patient appropriately with the amount of time he/she is given to respond to the said laundry list of medical problems, as opposed to the one given when making the appointment.
sandra,
my father is a geriatrician, and I completely agree with everything you said 100%
I would also add that 30 min of face time with the patient equals an hour of time spent on the case, when you add up writing a note, writing prescriptions, calling consultants, ordering and interpreting tests, etc. People are very ignorant of the behind the scenes work that goes into each and every patient visit, and that is fully demonstrated by luvinia post
Yes, Eric, patients have "no idea" what a doctor must do post-appointment; from going through records, looking up labs, following up on tests, following up with referrals to specialists, etc., etc. My husband has a "home office," and there he sits WHEN he's home -- still working! There are truly doctors who do care about their patients. I'd like to wring some knecks in regard to this Harvard study; baseless information in order to create unfounded discontent among the general public. They're supposed to be the "smart people" ... these Harvard elite ... I say ... Morons! LOL!!!
Walker.. Any time I've talked with a patient on the phone the first question is almost always asking them about what they are seeking treatment for. After that discussion insurance is discussed as most with insurance want to use it and can't afford to pay out of pocket. Doctors can also not afford to treat everyone for free (wish we could as I hate dealing with insurance companies). If I am not on their plan I try to recommend someone I know that is who that specializes in their problem or recommend they call their insurance company. Often patients call the doctors first because they hate talking with or trying to reach their insurers.
For someone with a complex problem a phone conversation could easily be 15 minutes plus and if they called a dozen providers who are NOT on their insurance plan they would have to explain it every time. So, for the doctor it's about time, patient/physician frustration, and then about money for both the patient and doctor. But this has little to do with lying to their patients and I've never seen where even the possibility of lying to my patients would make me any money.
It would be nice if people knew that they can only have one appt for each complaint, but how does one find that out? No one ever told me. Perhaps your offices should make it clear that is how it works, else they need to schedule an extended visit. Communication is lacking.
What if the complaints are a constellation or syndrome of one disease?
I have to say that the only physician I have respected is one that straight out told me he did not know what was wrong and why. He also treated me as an intelligent individual.
its actually pretty standard common knowledge...
It makes sense, think about it... how could you reasonable expect to take care of MULTIPLE complaints in one visit? NOt only are there other people waiting to be seen, but let's say multiple treatments for multiple complaints are started, and it is successful...now you are committed to multiple therapies instead of a single therapy that might have taken care of all your complaints. Or worse, you have a side effect--now all therapies have to be stopped because we don't know the offending agent.
as far as being a consellation of one disease--that's why dr's ask you questions--to figure that out.
Also, whoever schedules your visit over the phone will ask why you are coming in. Patients sometimes say "check up" or "physical" but then have a myriad of complaints when they actually show up
I agree that communication is lacking
You may think a dr who admits to not knowing is good; many others on this board would call him "stupid" and say that they were able to diagnose their problem with webmd
eric, if every doctor can diagnose every disease, wouldn't things be much simpler? you wouldn't need specialists.
im not sure what your point is here. Use of specialists has nothing to do with our discussion
If your history and exam and/or tests reveal a problem that requires a specialist, then the generalist will make the call. Im not sure what your point of confusion is here
Janellect: Re comment 1.12. A lot of doctors do address more than one complaint in a single visit. Family Practice and Internal Medicine Docs make their livings by doing this. Even a lot of subspecialists do this. If a patient has a constellation of complaints, as you stated, it may be that they are all related or maybe not. In sorting through this doctors have to develop a differential diagnosis, which means they have to both diagnosis and treat more than one disease process in certain cases. For example, a patient with Lupus may have excess protein in her urine as a result of the Lupus or it may be there for another reason. I see a lot of patients with low white cell counts. The second thing I do after checking to see if they are receiving chemotherapy is to look at their medications. A low white cell count can occur in association with a surprising number of meds, including H2 blockers like Zantac or Pepcid, Thyazide diuretics, Seizure meds, Beta Blockers, and a lot of other blood pressure meds. Those meds can not necessarily be stopped cold so I contact the referring physician as soon as possible but if I cannot reach them (and the low white cell count is dangerous) then I have to make a therapeutic decision about altering meds.
About the only time I would think of suing a doctor, would be if they intentionally poisoned me or cut of the wrong arm or leg. Other than that, it's probably forgivable.
Jack, thanks for your explanation.
The problem is that in a situation where a patient is critically ill, it is possible to describe the prognosis in such blunt and harsh terms that the patient literally may give up. Softening the description of the disease or injury sometimes makes a very significant difference in how well a patient does and how quickly they improve.
Secondly, if a doctor tells a patient or a family that a patient is going to respond in a certain way and then the patient does not respond as the doctor predicted, a lot of family members and the patient accuse the doctor of lying. I have had patients tell me hundreds of time that the surgeon "got it all" when referring to a cancer that was resected. I know the surgeons, and I know that what they said was interpreted by the patient differently than what they meant and that is why the patient was referred to another specialist in the first place.
On the other hand, I have also had patients tell me that another doctor totally disagreed with my recommendations. Sometimes that is reasonable, since medicine is an art as much as a science but sometimes it is the other doctor trying to make himself look better.
As far as placebos are concerned, they work if you believe they are going to work in a lot of cases. I know an elderly MD who published (years ago in JAMA) an article on how placebos caused a subset of hypertensive patients to have a drop in their blood pressure and controlled it for a finite period.
I think that a LARGE PART of this problem can be attributed to the pervasive attitude amongst Doctors that their PATIENTS are ignorant and incapable of understanding what is going on. Therefore, like a poor parent does with a questioning child,.........they tell these lies to avoid actually having to explain the TRUTH !
It's a form of conceit and also a form of laziness.
Wow. Your an idiot.
Pirate: its you're. A contraction of the words "you" and "are". Your grammar is poor. And I think Bork has the right idea.
And you have nothing better to contribute than this?! My meaning and thoughts were conveyed. I apologize for my brevity. And bork is still an idiot.
Here's another contribution, you're a moron. Bork is absolutely right.
Ah. Idiot number 2 chimes in. Ignorance in abundance tonight! Frightening, but entertaining reading.
its? NIce fix. Bork is absolutely wrong. 90% of the people don't want to be told they are overweight, have to change their diet, need to quit smoking, might have 25 new health poblems with the new medication they have to take because they are overweight, haven't changed their diet or smoke 3 packs a day.
Given that the average person is an idiot with about an 8th grade reading level, doctors have to "dumb down" everything in order to get these imbeciles whom they see on a daily basis to have even a basic grasp of what is wrong with them. Couple this with the fact that that nowadays most patients have taken to "self-diagnosing "and go to doctor's office demanding that the doctor write them a perscription for a specific drug that they may or may not need, but the patient has determined that he/she does need based upon the television advertisement for it, it is no wonder that doctors lie to their patients. If the trained medical professional deems it in the patient's best interest to hide the truth from that person, then I say, "keep lying, Doc." Most people are going to be too stupid to figure it out anyway.
There are many doctors. Some are good and some are not as good. Why generalize?
Pirate said:
Actually, you lost count. Bork was idiot number one. I am idiot number two. Marcus is number three.
Doctors have to be willing to tell why the patient's self diagnosis is incorrect. In my case, it took many visits to get a correct diagnosis, and in my husband's case (who is totally ignorant as to medicine), he DID correctly make a diagnosis. Take the 5 minutes to explain why the person should accept your educated reasoning. If all doctors were correct, you wouldn't get five different opinions from each one.
if you ask a dr why it is incorrect, im sure he'll tell you.
And you proved my point exactly that I made in the previous post #1.13 that I wrote before even reading this
what point? that people have to resort to getting information online? Granted, some random blog doesn't qualify, but actual peer reviewed published articles.
When you've spent thousands of dollars and many months suffering while being told you are healthy, should you just sit back and give up?
Please, I'd love to hear your suggestions.
That when people get a diagnosis they don't like from a dr, they research it themselves until they find one they like. Some people, and it sounds like you may fall into this category, use this as a way to rationalize and/or excuse their behavior/symptoms. Its not my fault, doc, its my disease. Therefore, they are absolved of all responsibility for their own health, as it is useless against the illness
that maybe there's nothing physically wrong with you
Or maybe its psycho-somatic
Or maybe its from a lack of exercise. If you are overweight and sedentary, that can bring on many problems that can be cured with healthy eating and exercise
by the way, may I ask what your husband "correctly" diagnosed himself as having?
I agree that it would help many patients if they understood the problem with diagnosing themselves by sometimes completely innacurate online criteria. Unfortunately, not all doctors have (or sometimes take) the time to explain why a condition is not XYZ, as these days almost every patient has googled and wants to share their diagnosis.
So here's one of the many issues:
I can only speak for psychiatric conditions, but I've often found that when people diagnose themselves or their children using online resources that they google and look at a list of (positive) symptoms and go I have/my child has most of those. Therefore, it must by this.
A perfect example is a child has problems with paying attention and concentrating so they must have attention deficit disorder. While it may be that (ADHD predom innattentive type) it could also be depression, anxiety, diabetes, lack of sleep, poor diet, in the extreme a brain tumor, or a million other things.
Thus there is much more to making accurate diagnoses than checking yes on a list of symptoms. Many disorders/diseases (even in different categories) have a similar list of symptoms. To differentiate one must rule out others.
That must be done by looking at factors like onset, duration, progression, if one particular issue is present or absent then it can't be xyz, lab results, patient/family histories, etc. It can also sometimes take treating disease ABC to see if it helps and if it doesn't then you can eliminate that disease (a diagnositic method often seen on the tv show House).
Most online resources will provide a list of common symptoms but they fail to provide sufficient information to eliminate other conditions. The process of learning elimination and then selecting an appropriate treatment is a major part of why it takes years to become a doctor. It's also why many online resources (even professional articles) are insufficient at diagnosing an illness. The difficulty in diagnosing rare conditions is even greater as one often has to rule out other conditions first. This is why even the best doctors may need several visits to properly diagnose and treat something.
When you start telling the doctor that you have XYZ and why, that can interfere with their diagnostic process and can lead them to misdiagnosing you!!!
So when visiting your doctor don't be to upset when you tell them what you have diagnosed and they don't discuss it, dismiss, or appear to ignore it and go on asking their list of diagnostic questions. After they are finished, if you are curious go back and respectfully ask why they didn't think it was what you thought. Most will be happy to explain their reason if you don't interupt and respect their diagnostic process. Remember their job is and you are paying them to provide you with the right treatment to help you get better, not just to write a prescription.
I didn't mean to write an article.. lol
Well eric, there was something wrong, and I wouldn't have posted my frustration otherwise. I had biliary dyskensia with a 4% ejection fraction (no stones) and adhesions on my liver. A year later, I had an abscess in my head that took more than six months and three doctors (with many visits) to diagnose (and the ER finally made the diagnosis). I even had a doctor tell me an MRI emitted radiation!
To be really suffering and basically told you're exaggerating due to atypical presentation does not endear me to believe every doctor I talk to.
My husband suggested Cushing's disease (which was confirmed) for someone else.
brain abscess in a non-immunocompromised individual who is not presenting with altered mental status, fever, or menigismus is an extremely rare condition and difficult to diagnose to say the least
Cut your drs some slack. Sounds like you had a very atypical presentation
MRI DOES emit radiation (though non ionizing). It uses radio frequency waves--not thought to be cancer causing
Cushings disease is not a terribly difficult diagnosis to make, but unless your husband has made many other fantastic diagnosis, I'll chalk that up to random dumb luck. I mean, really, one diagnosis does not a physician make
My husband is scientifically challenged, he's a business man. My point was that sometimes you really need to do a little bit of reading (assuming peer reviewed and acceptable information) on your own.
The physician suggested that MRI had teratogenic effects due to radiation (re: make sure I'm not pregnant). I thought that was a strange comment.
keeping informed as a patient is always a good thing. Thinking you will make the diagnosis is usually counterproductive
I can't speak for every dr on earth. Most know MRI doesn't carry known teratogenic effects. But even with that said, i wouldn't necessarily subject a fetus to that if it could be helped, because who knows....
I'd be thrilled to get truth from a doctor rather than platitudes...'calories in, calories out' - 'eat less and exercise more', maybe if they knew how to diagnose problems rather than just spit back what the media tells them I'd be more apt to trust them.
How about I just tell you you're fat, then? Would that make it any easier?
Here's how you diagnose fat. You eat too much. Stop eating so much. It's not rocket science.
Rack:
You forgot to send him a bill.
Rack & Stoopid, LOL!!!
How about a doctor telling the patient that if they will only eat more reasonably, and take a 30-minute walk every day, then they probably won't get diabetes and have to have both their knees replaced when they reach 65. It's because the patients "don't listen." They're looking for the "magic pill" that doesn't exist. That is part and parcel of WHY our health care costs are out of control. Paula Deen! I rest my case .....
Perhaps the patient does not understand why they are gaining weight when they are not doing anything different? It's a fact that muscle loss, hormones and metabolism change throughout your life. Normally, people don't realize that, nor does anyone explain it to them. They're not eating more.
janellect, I was talking about following a reasonable diet and exercise. When you eat a high-fat diet, and you don't exercise, you are going to become overweight. It's that simple. WHEN people start gaining weight and their diet and routine has not changed, then they absolutely should schedule an appointment with their physician to discuss the issue. We're talking about two entirely separate things.
one standup comedian whose name eludes me had a part of his monologue where he advertised the title of his new weight loss video-"stop eating, you fat son of a b*tch!" he also had an exercise video-"get off your as*, you lazy son of a b*tch."
It is wrong to racially profile lies.
What would really help is to be listened to and treated with respect. I've had my body for a long time and I know when something is wrong. If they don't know what is going on they need to say it instead of making up something.
Problem is patients lie to doctors all the time, and they have to decipher the truth to find out what's going on. It happens out of pride, embarrassment, and any other of a number of reasons patients are reluctant to give the truth. You may get right to the point, a plus for your doc, but many don't and expect the doc to somehow figure out the truth.
There is a huge difference between lying about a major mistake and telling a patient a white lie. There is simply no easy way to tell a patient that they are absolutely, positively, undeniably CRAZY, and all of their pathology is in their head. I often just placate and deflect them somehow, or tell them what they want to hear, as long as it wont hurt them. Luckily these patients are few and far in between.
So, what proportion is crazy? And if you cannot find any pathology or etiology, you think they're fine? That might be true for some, but not all. It took me 5 or 6 visits and finally an ER visit for one problem, and 3 years for another. Do you know how many doctors told me it was psychological? Atypical presentation doe not equal crazy.
I went to a doctor about an ear ache. The doctor wrote a prescription that I then had filled at a pharmacy. A few days later, during a follow up visit to the doctor. I had the medicine with me. The doctor looked at the label, said "What's this?" and took the bottle away from me, hiding the label in his hand. I have always wondered what was going on there. Some time later, at a different doctor for a different problem I asked that my prescription be type-written instead of hand-written. The doctor refused.... Hmmm, I thought it was a law that patients have the right to demand type-written prescriptions.
Go to a doctor who types the script into the computer and sends it electronically. What's with all the paper?
I just tell everybody they have six months to live. That way, when they hit 6 months and a day they're thrilled to be alive.
You are not the only who lies in this manner...it is often done to get extra credit for the excess days a patient lives -and dishonor for the stress, pain and anxiety it puts on the patient and those who love and care for him.
Honorable doctors who come from a long line of healers, not mere pseudos from a medical mill in search of making the quick buck without taking personal responsibility that the profession mandates...insurance problems, AMA, FDA, and attorneys also skew the healing exchange towards callous self protection and selfish enrichment.
The art of healing and the ability to truthfully heal the seriously ill person and encourage the patient to live is not, cannot be taught in med schools. Many such gifted healers cure half the disease by mere talking, appropriately touching, and subtly encouraging the patient to hang in there with but a single word, a look, touch, compassion.
This divine gift to heal comes not easy - is not a product of arrogance and ignorance that many, most doctors demonstrate. It comes with piety, inheritance, experience, knowledge, humility and love, compassion and reverence for all life and humanity. And burning thr midnight oil, most nights, all nights.
That's why patients have faith in their "preventive" medicine. You can't prove a negative.
"If you don't take this cholesterol medicine you're going to die of a heart attack"
10 years later....
"Doctor must be right. I'm still alive. "
Hamzsque -- Where do you find a doctor like you describe these days? All too many go into the medical field for the prestige and money. And I wonder how closely medical schools look at the person instead of the grades. One famous specialist I knew and who traveled all over the world to teach a procedure he had developed told me one time that if he were to apply for medical school now (that was in the 80's), he never would have gotten in. What a great loss to the world of medicine that would have been.
robert,
No doctor would make a claim like that, because in addition to not being able to prove a negative, we can't predict the future either.
However, we can say that "out of the thousands of patients similiar to you, here is your chances if you take the drug vs not take it"
I will have to take the side of the doctors in this debate. There are only so many minutes in the day, and each of the 40 or so patients a doctor sees every day must have 837 separate items of examination recorded or dictated. Do we expect each doctor to be Hercules?
(So doctors lie to appear like they have done it- or to get patients or gov't inspectors off their backs or whatever.)
"Okay, this is going to sting a little..."
Don't worry, your child probably doesn't have leukemia..but it is a possibility based on these results. But relax....
That wouldn't be a lie, Jon. That would be a cautious professional trying to reassure someone before all diagnostics are complete.
It's a lot easier to just tell people the facts. You're fat? I tell you you're fat. You have a mass on a CT scan that could be cancer? Yep, could be cancer. You smoke and have lung disease? I call you stupid for smoking. I don't have time to construct lies to make you feel better. People don't come to me so I can be their friend. That's what they have friends for. They come to me because they have a medical problem, or question, and they want answers.
awwwwwwww bull crap, been seeing the same Doc for almost 30 years and he's never steered me wrong yet....
Have to love how the world generalizes an entire profession these days. Guess what, all medical patients are cry babies that just want attention. I suppose all folks fit in that category according to the latesty study.
Rack,
I hope you're not a doctor, and if you are, I hope I never have the bad luck to be in your presence.
sherrie, you would be better off if you had me as your doctor. Are you looking for a doctor, or are you looking for a buddy? I'm not in the touchy feely business. That's what psychologists and therapists are for. Is it important to you if your car's mechanic is a nice guy?
Doctors, Preachers, military personnel and whoever are just humans just like us. At times we forget these things.
This is exactly why I do not trust the medical profession. They are only human, and human beings suck. Never trust your health to someone who has less of an interest in your well-being than you do (which is pretty much everyone save perhaps for a handful of loved ones).
I guess that means you suck and you aren't even worth treating. Stay home and treat yourself and trust that you can do it. Good luck with that.
Patients tell white lies to their doctors, and doctors tell white lies to their patients. Sounds like everybody's doing it.
Waaah. The world is inundated with waaah these days.
I experience the opposite with my cardiologist...he's tooooo blunt, and too all-telling. He discloses everything with most of it I don't want or need to hear. I think it's because I'm a nurse that he feels compelled to disclose all information. Yikes.....I really don't....at least the "you're gonna throw a clot someday and die" speech.
Than quit smoking woman.... : )
this article is racist towards white males
And aliens that visited this planet and spread their DNA 5000 years ago.
Obama hates white people.
You may be being sarcastic, but there is a bit of truth in that statement. Nobody could have sat in the church with Reverend Jerimiah Wright for 20 years without harboring hatred for white people.
I always take a doctor's advice with a grain of salt. People tend to think doctors know everything. Nobody knows everything, much less everything in their own profession. Granted, some are better liars than others. I share office with a very good liar. He admits it to me at times, smiling as the one he just fooled walked out the door. Someone would ask him a question which he has no idea the answer, and he will spit out an answer with authority. With such assertiveness, everyone thinks he is a genius and destined for higher positions. But for people who know better, they know he is full of crap.
Wow, this article is garbage. This is another one of those MSNBC articles designed to drum up inflammatory posts on newsvine. This article is poorly written and doesn't mean anything at all. Also, these Harvard researchers are trying to make a name for themselves with an inflammatory point they try to make. They certainly could be studying something that actually contributes to medicine.
This lopsided article does not even consider that the incidence of litigation against doctors is so high and costly that doctors are driven to lie to cover their mistakes. Make it harder to bring up frivolous lawsuits, and doctors will become more honest. This article that hinges on the notion of patient-centered medicine ironically seems to expect doctors to be perfect--to infallibly speak the absolute truth at all times. If doctors could do that, why would we need medicine to be patient-centered? The infallible, God-like doctors could make all our decisions for us...
No, doctors are mere people who are put in the impossibly difficult situation of needing to balance evidence-based medical decisions with cost, hospital interests, insurance interests, patient emotions, and the threat of litigation, all while working very long hours and themselves having to suppress their sympathies for their patients in order to carry on. Give them a break.
Mike--your comment was so thoughtful and right on target! I have worked with Alzheimer patients in ALF's.
It needs to be differentiated when dealing with senile dementia. What troubles me is the wording in the article and the percentages. 34% revealed they would agree with not telling the truth if the patient was "significantly affected by a medical error," and many responded they had never made an error.
I made an error in dispensing meds once, luckily caught it in time, and after doing the protocol (checking for allergies, getting baseline vitals, etc.) reported it immediately to the DNS. I will never forget her words: " If anyone ever tells you they have never made a medical error they are either lying or much worse too stupid to know they have." That's what I find frightening: dishonesty and/or stupid arrogance.
Thank you Candy. At least you can sleep at night.
My doctor and I have a great relationship. When we first met we came to an understanding that his job was to offer me information and option in the treatments that i might need. i don't want a doctor that tells me what i can and can't do. that's my job. It's my body and if I hve the right information I cn decide what to do and even then ask him what to do but just up front telling me without information isn't going to happen. I read earlier that people dont think their doctors spend enough time with them. I guess I am lucky being in a small town. My doctor gives me the time i need. Besides he gets most of his information bsed on my questions his questions and the lab reports and how much time could that take anyway.