Ever wonder if tx dr is is sincerely compassionate?

[headshop]

I have been wondering this since about the 3rd week of tx. they just don't seem accountable or able to admit a mistake was made, or really listen some times, not all the time. I pray they are just so busy, it appears that way and they are doing the best they can. 4 mistakes in appts, and scheduled labwork has me worndering.

[jmjm530]

This recent study says "no", but did we really need a study to know this?
http://www.topnews.in/usa/study-reveals-doctors-lack-empathy-patients-21391

As to listening, I remember another study which said that doctor's interrupt patients on the average of once every 25 seconds or some astonishing number like that.

Mistakes? Happen all the time if this place -- and my experience -- is any barometer. If I read a recent post correctly, some doc told someone here that they had relapsed and only later realized they read the tests results wrong.

But what do you expect. Nothing seems to work right these days and hardly anyone seems to take pride in the work they do.

Personally, I'd worry less about their (doctor's) bar and set your own higher in terms of of learning as much as you can and being a proactive patient.

Sorry for the cynicism but I think my blood sugar is a bit low right now :)

-- Jim

[l-horn]

I had a good doctor, and I think most are. I feel lucky to have had him.

All I can say is I'm sooooo glad I'm not treating now. This whole situation with the economy has me so nervous and downright afraid that I'm losing sleep. Can't imagine being on treatment and being stressed like this. I'd just have to turn off any contact with the outside world.  

[sfwandwow]

yeah stress here is no GAS in this area.. people fighting to get it..

[Isobella]

On the other hand--it is a great time to disappear under a blanket on the couch for the next 6 months :-)

Save money and gas.

[Kristina538]

My nurse is overworked and underpaid which is very hard for her because she has difficulty in using her brain.. (in saying that, I'm sure she's good in theatre because she's caring in a very desensitised and unempathetic way!!!).  

In many ways, it's been good because it's forced me to become more empowered.  (I go by an old saying that reads "you should always have ONE mortal enemy in your life to keep you on your toes"  - she is my 'one' these days lol!!!!).....

I think, generally, that HVC tx is governed by $ rather than compassion...... luckily there are some very, very compassionate medical staff in the mix..

[desrt]

My gastro had two SRO waiting rooms that he kept packed, seeing dozens of patients between 9 am and noon, and then spent the rest of the day working at a hospital. If you tried to be compassionate to that patient load you would burn out in a few years. If I brought in a study that disagreed with his SOC, he would take the time to read the relevant parts right there and then explain how his experiences were in conflict with what the study docs were proposing. With a 450 mile round trip to the nearest specialists, sometimes it's better to settle for competent/experienced rather than compassionate.

[jmjm530]

Desrt: f I brought in a study that disagreed with his SOC, he would take the time to read the relevant parts right there and then explain how his experiences were in conflict with what the study docs were proposing.
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This is an excellent point and why one ideally run studies not just by any doc, but by an experienced liver specialist (hepatologist) who sees lots of patients. This added perspective is lacking when looking at an abstract. Often, the doctor will explain why he does things differently and on ocassion they will say something like "I have no problem with that approach if you want to try it". Probably not something they would do on their own because it may be off SOC and somewhat experimental but a different story if the patient initiates the discussion.

Desrt:  With a 450 mile round trip to the nearest specialists, sometimes it's better to settle for competent/experienced rather than compassionate.
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I also agree here as long as lack of compassion isn't to the extreme where it turns into being demeaning which can result in sub-obtimal care. We have reported cases of this, and I experienced it myself but fortunately not with my liver specialist. But in general, give me a specialist who I can count on for the correct answers no matter how  he or she tells me as opposed to a compassionate doctor less expert who points me in the wrong direction.

[FlGuy]

I think it's a mistake to view the services of a doctor any differently than services of an auto mechanic or air conditionaing repair dude.  If you want comapssion see a minister, a friend's spouse or buy a terrier. If a doctors role was to be compasionate and caring they would institute foreplay before a colonoscopy.

[jmjm530]

I think it's a mistake to view the services of a doctor any differently than services of an auto mechanic... If a doctors role was to be compasionate and caring they would institute foreplay before a colonoscopy.
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I hope you at least asked for a lube job before they examined your exhaust pipes.

[Andiamo1]

Dr D and his staff are outstanding.

My first appointment with the research coordinator was in April of 07 on the day of the record rain of 11 inches.  She lived in NJ and I in Manhattan.  I walked to Mt Sinai in my sailing foul weather gear; all the while thinking she would never make it in from NJ at 6AM.  When I arrived at 98th street, she was waiting for me!  I asked how in the world she was able to get through the flood and she said that she know I would be there if I had to swim, so she slept under her desk knowing she would never get there from NJ in the morning.

I recognize that most centers are not like this, but I am sure that Mt Sinai is not the only one.

[jmjm530]

Andiamo: I recognize that most centers are not like this
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No, certainly they are not. I also treated at a large, prestigious trial center and sometimes waited over 2 hours to see my doctor. I wonder if your treatment had something to do with being a trial participant as opposed to just one of us ordinary folks and if this lady indeed part of the medical staff who actually treated you or someone you saw in a special capacity at the beginning of a trial.

[Marcia2202]

I have been very lucky. My doc is compassionate and I get a hug from my nurse every time. She gives me results over the phone immediately and happily photocopies all my results every time I come.

And they have water and juice with ice in the waiting room.

[charm27]

Compassion from a doctor?? Never experienced it.
No...........we are a "chart" another case..............

Dont mean to sound so cold but Ive never experienced anything different....

[nygirl7]

My doctor was so excited about my SVR (after my false positive) that when he called me himself he even forgot to say who he was and when I asked he kept saying "Oren! Oren!" and I had no idea what that meant until he said Oh it's Dr. K and then he couldn't have spoken faster if his life depended on it.  I think he was as excited that the extension worked as I was.

That doesn't mean however that there were things he didn't yet know about the treatment (thank God he WAS willing to learn and admit this) or they didnt' make any mistakes.........but as far as compassion he couldn't have had more if he tried.

I would advise anyone who is feeling that they don't have a doctor with compassion to find a new one if you can.  We need to look after our treatment as if WE are doctors because nobody has more compassion for you than yourself but...you need to know that your doctor does care and is doing the best for you that he can. Otherwise you'll spend 48 weeks second guessing every single decision he makes (well we all do that anyway but you know what I mean).

[jmjm530]

Marcia: have been very lucky. My doc is compassionate and I get a hug from my nurse every time. She gives me results over the phone immediately and happily photocopies all my results every time I come.
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What country do you live in ?????

Opps. Forgot. You don't live in the United States :)

[FlGuy]

I think Marcia has the benefit of socializing medicine where she lives

[jmjm530]

The only time  I got a hug from a nurse or a doctor was when I dated them.

[Marcia2202]

LOL...

I am lucky.... people are people....

I have heard a lot of horror stories from ppl here in Denmark. Ppl feel that their docs rush them out like number etc and that they don't get the appropriate care. Malpractice. Parts of patients files conveniently missing after some screw ups.
Mean nurses. When my mother was in hospital with Leukemia, there was one nurse who had been not nice to her and I almost threw a fit when I heard about it, you don't want to know what I wanted to do to that woman. You can be sure that I reported the incidence to the head nurse and to my Mom's hematologist, who was another great compassionate doctor. And my mother was not a difficult patient at all. Always with a big smile for the nurses and a thank you... and she was dying of leukemia

I am also very lucky with our family doc, GP, someone I know referred me to him when I first came to Denmark. You have to chose your GP from a list you get of docs in your district. I was told that he was kind and very good with children. He is the most helpful and compassionate doc I have known. My kids are also all happy with him.

I was able to keep him when I moved and got married. My husband has another doctor and is not so happy with him. I keep on telling him to try to move to mine, since we are married now it would probably be possible, even though he doesn't belong to my old district.

[Andiamo1]

The research coordinator and the PA were outstanding while I was a provagte patient and during the trial.  Dr D is also very compassionate.  I guess he is different than most Docs since he walked the mile himself and knows what we go through.

Eric

That doesn't mean I didn't have to get to see him :)

[Bobby1952]

   I go to a HMO (Queens Long Island Medical Group). My GI is nice but overworked. He is there 2 times a week. On tuesdays he doesn't meet with patients he only does procedures (colonoscopies) etc. On thursdays he sees patients and is swamped. The nurses are B atches. They give you a hard time most of the time.
  I filled out a anonymous survey and I stated how good the Dr. was and how horrible the nurses are. Hopefully other people had the b**ls to do the same otherwise nothing will change.
  Because it is medical group and not a private practice there is no follow up. You must check on everything yourself. I had to call for the results of my blood work I had to make the calls when prior approval for meds didn't go thru etc. etc.
  I went there because it was easier for me to  have the GP and GI at the same place. Plus my wife works there so that really helped to get thru the red tape "sometimes".

Bobby