• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Worst GP Appointment I have had…ever

I could not believe it , its 2015 and someone diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety is told its all in your head.............................:banghead:[/QUOTE]

Of COURSE it's all in our heads- that is where we live, after all. Doesn't mean that the body needs no help.

Twits.
 
Klangley said:
Just finished my GP appointment today......
Sorry for off-loading guys.
Click to expand...
Having diabetes doesn't seem to be enough - you have to put up with this kind of attitude from far too many doctors. I have had a couple of poor consultations with doctors at my surgery; and even a more helpful one was pushing HCLF.
 
Here is a tip... Whenever I went into a meeting with a professional advisor, say accountant,solicitor or consultant, I would always politely ask them if they would mind me taping the conversation so as to allow me to refer to it later. You would be ammazed at the effect a tape recorder on the desk has on the focus of the advisor. It is the simple knowledge that you can replay what they say, perhaps to others for whatever reason, that makes them consider more carefully and in some cases more politely, what they are saying to you, or the accuracy of the advice you are paying for (we do pay our doctors wages,don't we?).

I shall be recording all my own GP conversations in future and I will also keep my own set of medical notes on whoever I see.

Should have done it years ago

Steve.
 
Lol, that's a pretty awful tip. You can expect to get generic by-the-book responses with that approach and I doubt you'll get much help that way.

I encourage my clients to take notes in our meetings, but I'd politely show them the door if they ever brought a tape recorder in my office (although no one has ever asked). That comes off incredibly rude and it's not the sort of thing you do if you're looking for mutual respect and trust.
 
I would go nowhere near you, escort you out and you'd not be welcome back. I had a seriously senior manager sacked for that very reason when he recorded (admittedly) without my knowledge. Telling them up front you intend to tape those conversations is a break of trust at the get go

Absolute "no no"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
While I'm certainly not a doctor, I am in a profession that requires a significant level of mutual trust between clients and me. Here are my thoughts:

You should be able to trust your doctor, but your doctor should also be able to trust you. Doctors are people just like the rest of us. They can tell when someone is listening because they want to get better, or if they're only listening because they have to.

Furthermore, if you're "testing" your doctor, they will pick up on that, and as you can imagine, it can make them uncomfortable. That's never a good thing.

You can have an excellent and trusting relationship with your doctor and still question what they have to say. In fact, I think it's important to question your doctor's advice (respectfully) as it shows you're listening and want to learn.

Treat your doctor like a human being and most will treat you the same way. Treat them like they're in a court trial and you can expect the same treatment in return.
 
TorqPenderloin said:
Lol, that's a pretty awful tip. You can expect to get generic by-the-book responses with that approach and I doubt you'll get much help that way.

What better responses would you prefer?? I think its better to understand what is known as opposed to what is thought.

I encourage my clients to take notes in our meetings, but I'd politely show them the door if they ever brought a tape recorder in my office (although no one has ever asked). That comes off incredibly rude and it's not the sort of thing you do if you're looking for mutual respect and trust.
Click to expand...

Its got nothing to do with respect or trust, its just a very simple way to record and later digest a complex set of questions and answers as efficiently as possible. Shame you disagree but it has worked for me over the years, I found that taking notes was too time consuming and impractical. Why do you feel it is 'incredibly rude' and why assume there is a lack of trust and respect??

So, if a client politly asked if you would mind a conversation being recorded you would just show them the door!! now thats what I would call incredibly rude, and disrespectful not to say arrogant.
I never once had any negative response to recording a meeting and a 'by the book response' as you call it is probably what the op was actually after.

How would taking notes have helped the op?? You actually expect the op,who is depressed and anxious, to remember what they are being told by that awful GP in a ten minute session! or take notes?

Why would any understanding GP object?
 
I'm a nurse - and have even had patients film me while I treat them. Personally if thats their thang then I'm happy to let them. Im a professional - and I behave like one - why should I worry about people recording me if I'm doing my job properly?
 
I am unable to write quickly enough to take notes due to a stroke.
This is explained to any hCP dealing with me!
If they do not wish me to record the meeting then that is OK, but they will not be dealing with me. No HCP wants to have a complaint against them that they refuse to make adjustment for a patient's condition/disabilty!
 
alicerebekah said:
Before I was diagnosed with T1, my GP told me all my symptoms like my tiredness, was all part of daily life and I'd just have to get on with it..
Click to expand...
My eldest brother, who is type 1 was told by our GP, before he was diagnosed, to drink lots of Lucozade. As he was drinking a lot of fluids the doc thought he had a sore throat! I came home from school one lunch time to see him being taken to hospital in a coma. Even the thought of Lucozade makes me feel ill. My other brother and I are both type 2.
 
This may also be of interest. http://www.gponline.com/patients-record-gp-visits-without-consent-solicitors-warn/article/1219685

In my view, for what it's worth, it would be a good idea for a GP practice to have a stated policy of allowing recording of consultations, both to save the patient the embarrassment of asking and the doctor the embarrassment of not knowing the practice's policy. It should be stated that it would be courteous to provide a copy of the recording to the practice as quickly as possible. In the past, I've agreed to be recorded during a consultation with trainee doctors. perhaps I should also ask for a copy (or at least transcript) of these recordings. BTW, I am generally happy with my practice - most GPs there are good at what they do. There is one that I avoid whenever possible however.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The argument "If you're doing your job, it shouldn't matter if you're being recorded" is lame at best. With that mindset, we should allow the government to install surveillance cameras in all of our homes: "if you're not breaking the law it shouldn't matter."

The problem isn't whether or not someone is doing their job...that's where all the compliance and regulation comes into play and why a doctor makes 8x as much as a nurse here on the US (even though nurses arguably do more work).

The problem is about having no control over how that video is used. A patient is protected through doctor-patient confidentiality and privilege, but that doesn't work both ways. A doctor has little control over how that recording is used and it could be manipulated, publicly shared, or distributed for profit.

Again, it all circles back around to trust. I suppose if I had a client who was physically incapable of taking notes and we had established a trusting relationship, I would absolutely consider allowing them to record me. However, I'm not making an exception for someone too lazy to pull out a pen and paper.
 
I must be one of the fortunate patients .....I have had the same Lady Doctor for the last 10 years
and i must say I trust her implicitly..........She also trusts me to follow her advice ,,,,,which I do ...
Nothing seems to be too much trouble for her and she even allows.my Wife and myself to make
a Joint appointment if she thinks it would help.
 
I have a great Doctor he says it my call ,tells my the good and bad ,so no more statins and never take anything for my diabetes, LC/HF as brought my numbers down to normal
 
Well I thought I should update this post with my latest HbA1c results. I am now testing at 40, so in the non-diabetic range. I am very happy but not surprised, this is absolutely consistent with the average of my 3 months personal monitoring. I am due to have a diabetic review and had considered booking the doctor I saw all those weeks ago - the source of the bad experience that kicked-off this thread. I have decided against that. Instead I will write to the doctor copying the head of practice. I will keep it light but make it clear that some of the received wisdom is incorrect. Someone on another thread talked of educating their support team. I genuinely believe we all have a responsibility to do that. Not to say my work is complete. I am completely convinced I can lower my blood sugar further (I was a little naughty over Christmas). But there is no doubt if you look at the figures in my signature that mine is a success story of sorts. And that has been based on the support of this forum and the adoption of a Low-Carb and increased exercise regime. The recent liver function tests are also a load off my mind. As far as my T2 diabetes I don't know whether I am cured, in remission or sadly deluded (given this is one test) but I do know that if I presented to the Doctor today with these figures no-one would be diagnosing me as diabetic. I am certain though that I am 'carb intolerant' and will be for life.
 
If your going to take statins at least ask doctor to prescribe Coenzyme Q₁₀ if not possible then buy them and take them along with the statins.
 
Have to say I pretty surprised at some of there's responses .
I am deaf and I sometimes use a note taker ( some training I can't use other equipment ) .
If a nite taker is not available I use a dictaphone I attend the training and take in what I can but my dictaphone is a requirement after the lecture I am able to hook it to my computer and use a loop ( hearing device ) to listen to my notes .
Or my note taker will do that at a later date .
Dictaphones can be an access need and to see people say they would ask you to leave or it shows a lack of trust is rather shocking.

Please think before you assum I am sorry if this offends anyone but I find some of the above rather offensive.
Eveyone as a right to the same access to information and training if their access need happens to be a dictaphone then so be it .
N
 
Back
Top