Re: French Doc Discouraging Exchange

[Guest guest]

Bravo, Duffey!! If it weren't for my local support group (and they

don't meet enough) and your zap site, I'd be depressed most of the time.

Thanks--Anita

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[Guest guest]

As a doctor myself,I've watched with interest the comments that have been

made about what doctors tell their patients. I personally believe that it's

a patients right to know all that they want to know about their condition

and that decisions about treatment should be by negotiation between all the

parties concerned. Ultimately it's your right to choose to follow or ignore

your doctor's advice but a word of warning. In my experience it is seldom

good practice to change to the latest therapy just because it's newer and

the drug company is pushing it's new product hard. New products come in on a

wave of enthusiasm and many people suffer side-effects before a new

product's proper place in the therapeutic scheme of things is found. I agree

wholeheartedly with Jon that sharing experiences of illnesses very

therapeutic but it's also very true that each case is unique and that what

works for one person will not necessarily work for another. As we say in

Scotland, " One man's meat is another man's poison " . Doctors can sometimes be

arrogant and they are as just as capable as any other professional of

getting things wrong sometimes but the vast majority of doctors do what they

believe is in their patients best interest. The patient has the right to

disagree but the doctor does not have the right not to care.

Alan.

From: Jon Duffey <duffey@...>

egroups <egroups>

Date: 03 December 1998 18:53

Subject: French Doc Discouraging Exchange

>Jimmy....

>

> I just about grabbed a Xanax while reading your note:

>

>> I just spent 30 mn with my cardiologist

>> who also act as an EP.

>> Very interesting conversation.

>> He said it is no use to exchange idea about

>> treatments because no case is the same, no one

>> is the same

>

> This reminds me of the OLD Roman Catholic Church which did not want

parishiners reading the Bible because they might get the wrong idea!

> If you feel comfortable with this doc and firing him is not an option...

I suggest you ignore this part of his philosophy. He is wrong. It sounds to

me like he is afraid one of your ICD buddies (such as moi) will give you an

idea which challenges his authority.

> I for one, would have died from fright had I NOT been able to discuss

ICD issues with others... outside the medical establishment. How many of

them are walking around with one of these boxes inside them?!?!?!?

> THAT is the sole reason I work so hard on The ZAPPER, Zap*List,

Zap*life, emaiul and phone calls... I feel compelled to help others as I

have been helped.

> Pardon my nonFrench... but it is BullMerde for a patient NOT to keep

informed about new drugs and advances in ICD's. Any doc who suggests that

is insecure.

> Sure... each of us is different... but we share a common focus and with

it common fears and common reactions... regardless of who makes our ICD or

what meds we take.

> As I said, if you trust your doc... stay with him. But I sure would

ignore his suggestion to live in the darkness of being unenlightened.

> That's my 2-cents.

> Ya'll stay well...

> Duffey

>

>-----

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[Guest guest]

Doc Alan....

I am SO glad to find you taking part in this discussion. I am not a doctor

..... although I interviewed hundreds of them on TV... <G>

I think anyone taking part in or visiting our web site at

http://www.duff.net/zapper/ knows I am VERY careful to avoid giving any hint of

" medical advice " but try to focus on how to help people deal with various

situations: Suggesting the questions which need to be asked to be able to make

an informed decision... where to get those answers... and how to deal /mentally/

with the various options, prognosis, outcomes.

Because of that... I am thrilled to have someone with your credentials

keeping an eye on us... HONEST! So when you say:

> I personally believe that it's a patients

> right to know all that they want to know

> about their condition

I cheer! I also strongly agree:

> But a word of warning. In my experience

> it is seldom good practice to change to

> the latest therapy just because it's newer

Amen!

> New products come in on a wave of

> enthusiasm and many people suffer

> side-effects before a new product's

> proper place in the therapeutic scheme

> of things is found.

That's why we are so religious about making as much information as possible

- available for easy access. Not just the FDA approval of meds and devices...

but the short term researcg and long term user reports. Again.... my

philosophy: The more information you have, the better informed you are, and the

better informed you are leads to the best decision making.

We both agree on the value of sharing ideas and stories... the empath

entity. And while it may seem we differ on one issue:

> (EDIT) but it's also very true that

> each case is unique and that what works

> for one person will not necessarily work

> for another.

We really don't disagree. I often neglect to mention it... just because

after all this time, it is something I just take for granted.... knowing there

are billions of variables which define every individual's case.

Shoot..... *I* am NOT the same heart patient today that I was four years

ago... or the one I was a few months ago, for that matter. <G>

> Doctors can sometimes be arrogant....

Yes.... but to allow that to enter into dogmatic treatment decisions (should

a patient inquire about options the doc has not considered) is not fair to

anyone.

My guess is, you are the type of doctor who abandons the famous ish

conservatism and reserve... to object demonstrably to any colleague who

practices that type of medicine. If I'm right... keep it up!

And PLEASE.... do stay active in our forums.

Stay Well....

Duffey

-----

See the original message at list//?start=206

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[Guest guest]

Doc Alan....

I am SO glad to find you taking part in this discussion. I am not a doctor

..... although I interviewed hundreds of them on TV... <G>

I think anyone taking part in or visiting our web site at

http://www.duff.net/zapper/ knows I am VERY careful to avoid giving any hint of

" medical advice " but try to focus on how to help people deal with various

situations: Suggesting the questions which need to be asked to be able to make

an informed decision... where to get those answers... and how to deal /mentally/

with the various options, prognosis, outcomes.

Because of that... I am thrilled to have someone with your credentials

keeping an eye on us... HONEST! So when you say:

> I personally believe that it's a patients

> right to know all that they want to know

> about their condition

I cheer! I also strongly agree:

> But a word of warning. In my experience

> it is seldom good practice to change to

> the latest therapy just because it's newer

Amen!

> New products come in on a wave of

> enthusiasm and many people suffer

> side-effects before a new product's

> proper place in the therapeutic scheme

> of things is found.

That's why we are so religious about making as much information as possible

- available for easy access. Not just the FDA approval of meds and devices...

but the short term researcg and long term user reports. Again.... my

philosophy: The more information you have, the better informed you are, and the

better informed you are leads to the best decision making.

We both agree on the value of sharing ideas and stories... the empath

entity. And while it may seem we differ on one issue:

> (EDIT) but it's also very true that

> each case is unique and that what works

> for one person will not necessarily work

> for another.

We really don't disagree. I often neglect to mention it... just because

after all this time, it is something I just take for granted.... knowing there

are billions of variables which define every individual's case.

Shoot..... *I* am NOT the same heart patient today that I was four years

ago... or the one I was a few months ago, for that matter. <G>

> Doctors can sometimes be arrogant....

Yes.... but to allow that to enter into dogmatic treatment decisions (should

a patient inquire about options the doc has not considered) is not fair to

anyone.

My guess is, you are the type of doctor who abandons the famous ish

conservatism and reserve... to object demonstrably to any colleague who

practices that type of medicine. If I'm right... keep it up!

And PLEASE.... do stay active in our forums.

Stay Well....

Duffey

-----

See the original message at list//?start=206

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