Readers Digest Article

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all, just got my copy of Readers Digest the other day and I am

steaming mad!!!

They have an article about 41 Things Your Doctor Doesn't Want You to

Know..or something like that. I left it in the house. Shoot.

I think you can read it online, but if not, go pick up a copy at a

bookstore or supermarket.

The doctors they interviewed had some of the meanest things to say

about us patients, and I can't wait to fire off a letter to Readers

Digest and reply to some of the ridiculous statements.

One in particular stands out to me: The Docs think we're stupid for

not turning off our cell phones while in their offices.

Ok, I don't always remember, and for some reason my Chaz forgets where

I am and calls to ask a question, or to find out where I am. h

takes me to all my appointments so he doesn't always stop to think

before hitting " call " .

BUT, the last time I was at my Pulmo HE took a phone call in the

middle of my exam...to discuss the repairs to his vehicle and how much

it would cost. And then used MY time with him to talk about kids and

vehicles and the price of repairs!!! I AM NOT JOKING! It used up

about 15 minutes of my time with him. He apologized but didn't let it

go to voice mail which is what I would have done.

AND THEN, there was the breakdown of what your doctor really makes

from you in a visit. Made me laugh so hard I practically snorted

Cheerios out my nose! It's ludicrous to think that a Doc actually sees

a patient for 1/2 hour. Especially a GP. They pack as many people into

that hour as possible and I know for a fact that my GP lives a VERY

nice lifestyle. They said that after all the expenses the Doc only

makes $41 an hour...EXCUSE ME???? I don't think so.

And the part about making us wait? They don't care. Our time means

nothing to them. I once waited nearly an hour in a room filled with

people and finally went to the frosted (closed) window to see what was

taking so long. The Doc had been called away to the hospital and would

be at least another half hour. NO ONE bothered to tell the patients in

the waiting room. When I told the Doc what had happened he sided with

his office staff. Another time (different Doc) h and I sat for an

hour and no one else was in the waiting room. I finally went to the

(again) closed window and the girl looked at me in surprise and said

" oh, we forgot about you " !!! I told her that was fine, as I was

leaving and would not ever return.

94% of them will take freebies from drug companies so they can get

gifts in return.

They make patients wait while they talk to the drug reps.

And on and on and on.

I was horrified and quite upset. I believe the term that applies here

would be " appalled " . If anybody else reads the article please post

about your feelings. I for one am going to send a very honest letter

to Readers Digest and hope they post a little of it.

And from now on, if any Doc makes me wait longer than 15 minutes,

without an excellent excuse, I'm leaving. And they'll get a letter

from me. My time is valuable too, especially considering that I have a

terminal disease.

Still fuming in Texas

Babs