I'm Still Waiting...

Well here it eleven, almost 12 days after my MRI and I still haven't heard a word. However, the story doesn't stop there, there's MORE!

Through the years I've had a few unfortunate run-ins with medical professionals- from doctors right on down the line to their receptionists. Now you might think that I am demanding or inconsiderate or just plain rude to have had so many of these experiences, but I tell you that couldn't be further from the truth. I swear as God is my witness! That is not to say I will take a back seat, but I just typically weigh my odds and battles carefully.

The nasty experiences were not necessarily about me, some times they involved the care of extended family, or even a violation of my own privacy right! For example, my doctor's office sent my medical records to a former employee WITHOUT my consent. Actually, I had written them a letter specifically stating where the medical records were to be sent, but did they listen? NO! I had to retrieve my very personal information from an employer which I no longer had any contact with. Of course the employer assured me that "no one read the records." Yes, and I fell off the turnip truck yesterday.

Another incident involved my aunt who went into respiratory failure. Upon taking her to a local hospital we were met by a very condescending and RUDE physician. You would not believe how she spoke to my 80 year old mother! I had left the room momentarily and came back to my mother in utter shock from the way this person spoke. As she told me about it my blood began to boil, but then I looked at my aunt struggling to breath and I decided to calm down. I approached the Doctor and she literally went off on my about how I refused treatment for my aunt before, and how no doctor wants to treats her, and why don't we go back the out of town hospital where she was before! I was flabbergasted! A woman lies struggling to breath and this woman/Doctor is spewing such lies-where did this come from? As I continued to question her the answer soon came out (and doctors are supposed to be so smart). Seems our family doctor (who doesn't go to the hospital) made the mistake of referring her to an internist's practice which she had left due to lack of treatment. Allow me to clarify-my aunt had some serious medical issues which left her physically weak, with a temporary tracheotomy, and suffering from a poor swallow response. We were told by the University Hospital which treated her, that it would take time but she would be able to have the trach removed after much therapy. Since that hospital was 50 miles from home, my aunt decided to come closer for treatment. Unfortunately, the doctor here decided the trach was permanent and therapy would be of no benefit. My aunt decided she wanted to go back to the hospital's rehab at the university. Guess who the doctor at the local nursing home was? The same Doctor who got the ER doctor all rilled up saying we refused treatment. When I discovered this is where is came from, I politely yet firmly told the ER doctor that "we did NOT refuse treatment, we refused LACK of treatment." Of course it didn't matter, her mind was made up and she told every other doctor her lie. Mean while my aunt struggled for breath. Finally a pulmonary doctor who had treated my aunt before agreed to see and treat her, of course I had to hear about from him too. And he didn't want to hear my story either, after all I'm only a lay person NOT a doctor. My aunt passed away several days later.

I know there are many others who can share stories such as these. As a matter of fact I have been sitting on my own book, titled, The Dark Side of Medicine for quite some time. I don't know what I'm waiting for as far as submitting to publishers, I just feel I need to wait a bit. But I digress...

So almost 2 weeks ago I had an MRI, after I decided to have second opinion on my knee. The MRI center told me that they will send me the disc and I am to get it to the doctor. During my initial office visit, the Dr. told me that I was to call his office after I thought he would have received the reports (first conflict). So I wait, and wait and wait and so 6 days pass and no MRI film in my box, so I call the doctor's office. They don't have it either. I call the MRI center, they refer me to radiology, who then tells me the disc is still there. Hmmmm....so I go and pick it up. I then send it via UPS over night. UPS felt that is would get there before lunch the next day. So I wait until the following day to call the Dr's. office. With a very short and snippy person on the line, I am informed it is not there. I question how that can be since I shipped it overnight. She responds, "we didn't have mail yesterday." My response, "I sent it UPS. You mean you didn't get any deliveries?" Avoiding my question she said the doctor would call me when he sees it. I said "but the Dr. told me I was to call him!" She said, "well you already called us once, so we'll call you."

Uh-huh.

Another day passes and all I really want to know is that the large fee I paid to ship the darn film wasn't in vain. So I call the office again, just explaining I want to just make sure the film arrived. The receptionist who was very snippy previously, was even more so today. With a very exasperated "hold on" she leaves me hanging in telephone space for a lengthy time. She returns and using a tone I wouldn't use on road kill says, "The Dr. has it he'll call you today or tomorrow." As I attempted to ask another question I was privy to a loud fumbling hang up. No thank, no good bye, no kiss my grits. I was furious! Who do these people think pays their salaries? No one is THAT great that people will keep coming back to pay to be treated rudely-c'mon! This type of scenario, at least in my experiences, seems to happen most within medicine. One doctor even had the audacity to say to me in regards to another colleague's tirade with me, that he was probably having a bad day. Can you imagine! As a teacher there may have been many bad days of my own, but never did I take it out on the children or their families-I wonder if a Dr would be so forgiving in that instance-doubtful. It just amazes me that people who are in and paid for caring and tending others can be so gosh darn rude. Blows my mind!