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| From: Leslee Freeman | Posted: Aug-23-2000 11:13 am | Msg: 2011 |
| Subject: RE: [Sistahtalk] doctor experience | ||
| Jojo - thanks for letting me know that the behavior is unacceptable. Like I said, I am pretty emotionally unstable right now, and am never sure if I am being too sensitive. For now, I will continue to speak up, and will most likely find a new docotr/HMO after I have the babies. Leslee >From: "JoJo" >Reply-To: Sistahtalk@egroups.com >To: >Subject: RE: [Sistahtalk] doctor experience >Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 11:22:25 -0400 > >Hi Leslee, > >I have to chime in with others here - if you can, find a new doctor. (I'm >not sure about the situation in the States - is this something that you can >do easily?) > >Doctors are certainly human and they do make mistakes and assumptions. >However, given that you are paying for their services, I think that its >quite reasonable to expect good accurate service. Would you continue to go >to a mechanic who insisted on treating your Dodge as if it were a Honda? > >Of course not - you need a doctor who is aware of YOU as a patient. >Particularly when all the necessary info is already in your chart. That is >their responsibility, that's their job! > >In my professional life, I've spent a number of years working with doctors >(in a number of different capacities) and I feel pretty confident in saying >that this is not acceptable. > >Giving you those pamphlets may just be a case of *business as usual* for >them - just part of their everyday package. However, the issues with your >blood pressure and weight/diabetes are things that could become dangerous. > >It seems clear that you are comfortable and confident in speaking out to >your doctor, but many women are not - they would simply accept the info as >given or be afraid to question the *expert*. > >My (longish) two cents, >JoJo > >-----Original Message----- > >I am so mad right now, so this may not be very coherent, but please bear >with me. >I am pregnant with twins. I have been married for 6 years, and wear a >wedding ring. I went to the dr. late this week, and was tonight going thru >the paperwork/pamphlets that the nurse gave me prior to my appointment. Low >and behold, I find several about proving paternity. Excuse me? My husband, >with HIS wedding ring, on has accompanied me to most of my appointments, >and >most of the nurses know him (he is a 6'9", bald, mean-looking ex-marine; >people tend not to forget him). My chart also notes that I am married and >happy about the pregnancy. I know this thanks to my skill at reading >upside-down. Why did the nurse assume that I was an unmarried woman? >I know I am more sensitive and reactionary because of hormones, but this is >not the first time I have been categorized at the doctors. Early in my >pregnancy, my blood pressure was elevated. I was told it was becayse I am >most likely prone to high blood pressure. I told the doctor, in my coldest >voice, that if she read my chart(which she was holding), she would see that >my blood pressure is actually prone to be low, and would she please >consider >another possibility. I was sent to a nutritionist for gestational diabetes, >who advised me my pre-pregnancy weight was fine, since I have a such a >large >frame (she as planning my diet and weight gain, so she needed to have an >accurate picture of my prepregnancy weight). As much as I love to be told I >did not weigh too much, I need accuracy, not diplomacy, so I advised her >that my frame has always been considered small. She then took the time to >actually look at my wrists (even swollen, they are small), but still asked >if the women in my family were small, or...It was fun telling her my mom >and >aunts' weights. >These are just two examples. I would like to do something about this >problem >I am having. This categorizing is not only annoying, it can be dangerous, >since they are less likely to look past their assumptions to the actual >truth if there is a problem. >Any suggestions would be nice. Thanks everyone >Leslee > > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com | ||