Agreed @Goonergal. Interestingly, so does Dr. Clare Gerada, a former Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners: "“The idea that you need to consult me as the GP to tell you where to go is a nonsense in tomorrow’s world. In yesterday’s patronising world where I had the knowledge and I kept it from you, fine, but you are just as responsible."I think the key is to take responsibility for your own health, educate yourself and find a route that works.
I would have thought/hoped so to. However when did you last see a GP who had read your notes before the consultation?
I don't think Tom is saying we should be giving medical advice but that all of us should educate ourselves as to personal health matters so we are informed and can use the Doc as an advice giver rather than blindly do what they say.
I agree @Sue192, and would add that when actual engineers look at their medical conditions using an engineering approach, they realize that there was much mainstream medicine does not know. @FatEmperor's story is a case in point. His journey started when several of his own blood markers were elevated. He went to three different doctors seeking the root cause of his elevated markers. Not one could provide an explanation that made sense to him as an engineer. He then did his own research (his expertise is in root cause analysis/complex problem-solving) and he found the root cause within a few weeks. @DaveKeto is another example. He is taking on the conventional wisdom in lipidology.An excellent post from him and he's right: they won't have the complete picture about one's personal 'engine' and it is up to us to be the engineer of our learning about diabetes or any health matter that affects us, as much as we can. GPs cannot possibly know everything about your condition
I would be dead now if I had believe one oncologist and not sought advice from another!
We all start off believing in our parents as gods. The transition to making our own decisions on the basis of inadequate information is scary. Some of us don't make it at all, and perhaps all of us are glad to regress from time to time.Sad thing is its easier to put yor trust / faith in a god than to recognise youre dealing with a fallible individua with a knowledge base that constantly evolves but is never all ecompassing
They were mostly taught (in the 1980s) what happened with the majority of the population sometime in the 1950s, and despite the supposed refresher courses for GPs they are sticking with that "knowledge". The humbler ones are willing to accept well-documented input from patients while the ego-driven majority prefer steam-roller tactics.They are mostly taught what happens with the majority of the population
Let the dead bury the dead! Better to target your concern to people who have the intelligence and courage to search for answers beyond what the nice GP tells them. You may actually be able to help them. Those who believe that being a nice, obedient, docile patient is what it takes to survive and thrive will not listen to you and will even be annoyed because alarmed by your questioning.What worries me is that any poster here is pretty much an exceptionnin a huge population.....its the huge population I worry about... the ones that totally believe that they can jyst totally rely upon nhs and meds and carry on with not really giving a ****...
I just worry about the masses...
Totally agree.I've been in and out of hospitals all my life because of cystic fibrosis.... mistakes get made. Usually when a doctor doesn't read your notes and walks in "blind" and treats you. I've been prescribed antibiotics that my records clearly show not to give. 4 years ago I was prescribed an antibiotic in an emergency room for pneumonia by a doctor who didn't look at my notes and had no clue I'd had a double lung transplant. Once I had asked if he had checked with my transplant doctors if this drug was ok, he immediately went and read my notes. Antibiotics have different effects on transplant meds and their effectiveness. Drug interactions can be dangerous, and when a doctor doesn't bother looking at your notes there is plenty of room for bad things to happen that shouldn't.
Having said that, 99% of the doctors I have seen are good at their jobs. It's not an easy job. So for medical advice, that's where I go. And I have refused to take some drugs prescribed, if the side effects are just too risky and out weigh the benefits. Doctors sometimes don't even know them, and or never mention side effects.
For diet and exercise advice, I've spent years researching it and experimenting with it. And asking questions. As that post states, taking control of your health relies a lot on yourself. You usually know when something isn't right, or when you are onto to something.
I agree.I think, having recently had my life saved by my GP by him knowing the consultant was wrong, that my surgery team do their best. But, knowing they are overworked and underfunded, I take my mantra from the health and safety rule:
Workers have a duty to take care of their own health and safety
so I consider my input and knowledge is just as vital, and i have a duty to inform myself of health considerations and options that could affect me. The days of a GP having known you from birth, and having time for each and every patient to give a full run down and understand their condition, are over. If it ever existed at all. I believe I have to tailor my expectation and outcome to the reality of what the NHS is now.
Why not both?I'd rather have the doc, than have nothing but google.
I know what you mean I was prescribed an antibiotic by an on call doctor once when the registrar consultant did her rounds in the morning she threw a wobbly and got very irate asking who it was that was trying to kill me.I've been in and out of hospitals all my life because of cystic fibrosis.... mistakes get made. Usually when a doctor doesn't read your notes and walks in "blind" and treats you. I've been prescribed antibiotics that my records clearly show not to give. 4 years ago I was prescribed an antibiotic in an emergency room for pneumonia by a doctor who didn't look at my notes and had no clue I'd had a double lung transplant. Once I had asked if he had checked with my transplant doctors if this drug was ok, he immediately went and read my notes. Antibiotics have different effects on transplant meds and their effectiveness. Drug interactions can be dangerous, and when a doctor doesn't bother looking at your notes there is plenty of room for bad things to happen that shouldn't.
Having said that, 99% of the doctors I have seen are good at their jobs. It's not an easy job. So for medical advice, that's where I go. And I have refused to take some drugs prescribed, if the side effects are just too risky and out weigh the benefits. Doctors sometimes don't even know them, and or never mention side effects.
For diet and exercise advice, I've spent years researching it and experimenting with it. And asking questions. As that post states, taking control of your health relies a lot on yourself. You usually know when something isn't right, or when you are onto to something.
Why not both?
Blind faith is a wonderful thing and ignorance is bliss. So they reckon...Don't ask me, I'm good with doctors.
They do a good job, even in the face of those that know more.
Blind faith is a wonderful thing and ignorance is bliss. So they reckon...
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