Other things can kill you

[cornerofmadness]

Besides Corvid-19. This brought to you from the group chat I'm in with a bunch of docs I went to Med school with and the pictures they posted to our emedicine group. Holy crap, if you have an infection, go to the damn hospital. I looked thru a bunch of pics today that are probably going to be amputations because the patient wouldn't come in out of fear.

Fear in medicine is such a killer. I've seen cancer patients go much faster because they were too afraid it was cancer to be checked out. I've had to remove body parts because of diabetics too afraid of an infection they let it go until they're so feverish they're delusions and pus is running out like Niagra falls.

And this is why I get SO angry when you get an asshole doctor who makes a patient feel bad/afraid/angry and no longer trusting medicine.

ETA - This is not about money (which yes is an issue too) What I'm talking is strictly about fear

I have to figure out how to use Zoom by tomorrow. I'm fairly sure I'll screw this up but two of my three new freshman are on deck to speak to me via zoom tomorrow and Friday.

Comments

[enemytosleep]

There is also the financial aspect of medical care that seems to be a much more common problem than 10 years ago. People can’t afford the care and wait too late to go. It’s all not good.

[cornerofmadness]

I should have put that in this, that money is NOT the reason. It was very specifically fear of the virus because that's what was related to my friends. The patients had adequate insurance

[enemytosleep]

Oh yeah I was talking in a general sense of why many people ignore serious symptoms and end up in even worse situations. Someone trying to avoid a $250 emergency room fee now has an even larger surgery bill after they lose that toe, etc.

[cornerofmadness]

ANd that definitely does happen all too often

[aaronlisa]

In the US, I wonder how many people put off going to the hospital for fear of the cost though as well.

That said, in Canada we're seeing this too, where people aren't going to the hospital for fear of covid.

Speaking of poor doctors, I need to find a new one when things are more relaxed in my area. My current doctor dismisses a lot of things with me. Plus he has an awful bedside manner. I find myself putting off seeing him.

[cornerofmadness]

Like I said to enemy I should have put that here, it was not money. The patients had insurance. It was strictly fear of the virus.

Yeah there's really no need to put up with a doctor you don't think is doing a good job