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When to Argue With the Doctor
4 Comments
Most of our daily problems, including common annoyances such as arguments with coworkers, are dismissed as not life or death. However, when nurses, healthcare professionals, and doctors are involved, it can be a matter of life or death. Egos need to be left outside the hospital by the professionals entrusted with the health and safety of the patients they care for, which sometimes means you must argue with doctors.
The problem is that a hospital isn’t really conducive to arguing. And doctors aren’t like lawyers, who argue for a living. They’re used to having everyone accept their opinion as gospel, and can take it as a personal affront when anyone disagrees with them. Unfortunately, doctors are people and people make mistakes, and with nurse practitioners and RNs taking on more and more duties, nurses and doctors butting heads is becoming increasingly common.
Here are four times when it’s OK to argue with your doctor.
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sunnydays140
over 1 year ago
2 comments
physician misbehavior-i saw plenty of it this past year with a workers comp injury! workers comp doc office yelled at me for coming in when my condition got worse, told me to go pay out of pocket for a new doctor, and then released me two days later telling me dont turn your head to drive if it hurts on pain meds i was prescribed. have seen several doctors out of my own pocket who proved i was still injured but to see a doctor on my own for a workers comp injury is next to impossible as many do not want the fight and extra work of workers comp i believe. what happened to helping a patient in need of medical care no matter what?
PatricParamedic
over 1 year ago
22 comments
Here's a curious point for the folks here to think about:
We happen to investigate, research, write & lecture on the subject of physician misbehavior. Two years ago, we published a book that covered some of the material we had gathered.
The point here is not to advertise - the point is to underscore the fact that we continue to receive 40-45 reports each week, from people with daffy - and at times criminal - doctor experiences.
The ugly reality is that - as nearly as we can determine - no other profession generates more unnecessary suffering & death, than the errant physician population.
And both their numbers - and the sheer volume of their shenanigans - are worse than ever.
So do everything in your power to arm yourself with the best information you can get, regarding anyone, who has a hand in your well-being.
Why? Because faulty health care is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA.
Ziva
almost 2 years ago
6 comments
Most doctors are kind, respectful, to both nurse and patient, however I do agree with PatricParamedic, some need to grow up and realize they are not the only people in the room.
PatricParamedic
almost 2 years ago
22 comments
I don't care for the word "argue" but in general the subject here is a valid one.
Here's one you might add to your list:
Never, ever accept a medication order (or a prescription) that you cannot read.
Juvenile, undisciplined handwriting kills 17 Americans every day of the year.
It's time for patients to start acting like adults.