I had my annual wellness visit with my doctor last week, and I asked her why some doctors don’t like patients using the internet to keep themselves informed. I thought that could be a plus for doctors. She said that’s because my thinking was fact-based. A lot of her patients are, but a lot are faith-based. For instance one of her patient’s had a brain cancer but her husband searched the internet and was convinced that was the wrong diagnosis. He was convinced it was a tape worm in her brain. My doctor said she understood where he was coming from, but the tests and scans showed that wasn’t true.
The thing I liked best about the doctor was she wasn’t scornful like the doctor in the cartoon, she understood why the fellow was thinking the way he was. I liked her before, but I like her even better now.
i’ve met a doctor in the past who didn’t like my idea from the Net…and he wouldn’t even treat the problem! I learnt to live with it…and still do.
But since last week, I’ve been wandering if the anomaly isn’t related to the surgery I needed. I’m not in good space to delve back right now, and maybe it’s not needed…just go with the flow and see how things pan out…
I’m busy getting better, and this morning I feel much, much better (Aug 30) and as you can see catching on blog posts….
I’m glad you are on the mend! I hope things go well with the anomoly.
your doctor seems to fall under my personal feelings of doctors or physicians. physicians are in it for true healing. not for the money or the feeling of being a GOD who knows all. (heaven forbid we mere laymen should LEARN anything.) yours is a true physician in my book!
and to Catherine… so good to hear you’re going to take it slow. and go with the flow! xo
Yes, she’s a cool head. 🙂
My doctor is quite happy for me to research things on the net and come up with possible diagnoses or treatments. So far there’s been no clash between what I think and what she thinks. But I guess some people simply mistrust any professional diagnosis and are convinced something quite different is the problem. However much evidence they’re presented with, they just don’t believe it. Witness those terminal cancer patients who’re sure some sort of natural remedy will cure them.
Yes, they are faith-based, as my doctor puts it.
I go to three doctors for normal matters, one my GP of 25 years, one my cousin in law and the other, my cousin. I have not felt the need to consult the internet to understand their diagnosis or treatment so far.
I have also had the benefit of being exposed to two brilliant orthopaedic surgeons who have replaced and revised my hip joints and here too I have gone by their recommendations and have no regrets.
I was under the treatment of a psychiatrist for clinical depression some time ago and he too has been a good source of comfort and friendship and whose opinion I value.
I don’t refer anything in the internet except to find out the names or to decipher something that I may come across in some other material.
I’m glad you’ve had good doctors. Andy’s case was beyond our local GPs, and the neurosurgeon aggressively pushed for a dangerous operation so it was safest to do our own research before we made our choice.