neurologists - gender issue?

[Guest guest]

Sorry , but you are wroing on this one. And I did

not make it a gender issue. It is a human being deserving respect

issue. The advantage men have is that when a man's penis is

directly involved it invokes the brotherhood to act as though it is the

end of the world. When men see one of theirs kicked in the goods,

all of them reach for their own jewels - probably a biological imperative

to keep the species going no matter what. Doctors are very fast to

move on breast issues too, my lumpectomy was arranged so quickly it made

my head spin. Ifg you have OH and impotence it follows SD is

possible, as woman you can demonstrate only one of these, and women are

expected to swoon and faint (hormones are usually blamed). It is

not the same. Again, I did not bring it up, but, now you have me

going.

As far as recourse goes, Haha! I've been going throught the

complaint process for over six months, if I had not hidden that from the

current doctor he, like five before him, would in all likelyhood not have

treated me at all. Two of these doctors found out about the

complaint from the doctor I was complaining about, my God, how they stick

together (the five included, by the way, two women). I had six

months without any medical care, because I dared complain, and since the

complaint is still in play, it is likely that it will continue to plague

me. I am not by nature litigious (I hate lawyers) however, it has

now crossed my mind. How else will this disrespectful treatment

change?

I responded to their letter a month ago, pointing out all the errors in

my file (which I had documented), former physicians vouched and

provided their files to help me (some others refused to get

involved). The glaring errors in my file can hurt me, and if he

does it to me how about the other 1000 or so patients he has?

Better still, he teaches. He named doctors I have never seen, lists

conditions I have never had or been treated for while leaving out others,

the dates are wrong, he had my age wrong, he thought I was still living

with my husband (odd since my X's girlfriend was also his patient - she

died from breast cancer - he missed that one too). Still the

College of Physicians and Surgeons does nothing, no reprimand. Just

a letter saying that errors have been made. He still teaches and

still practices medicine, and I still have not been allowed to view the

file for myself, the things I noted were from a letter giving me the

'digest version' of what was in my file as interpreted by the

College. I have doubts this is isolate. It is downright

dangerous in a country where so little medical care is avaiable to us who

have no other means of paying for it.

Yesterday I also sent this letter to the provincial government.

_________________________________________________________________

I'm so sick and tired of being made guilty and lowly about being

disadvantaged (due to disability mind you.) There are the

repetative hoops to jump through, no one cares if my illness is terminal

and get progressively worse. Oh no. Once the three months are

up for the liquid meals (because I often cannot swallow or chew well, and

eating is so difficult I cannot get enough food intake), I am made to beg

again to get the forms submitted to my doctor, who I have to then remind,

and then on top of it it is declined, because it was designed for post-op

therapy. Message here, if we cannot repair it just die

already. Of course there are appeals, a healthy person can do that

but my energies don't stretch that far (lucky for you, not for me.)

My energies don't stretch to standing in line for handouts either,

causing me to choose between necessities (food or eye drops.)

My homecare and home visits were cancelled because someone (I still don't

know who) complained that my son's mental illness posed a threat.

The MHT barged in one morning turned life upside down. Even though

they did not seem to consider him a threat my services were

cancelled. It took me years to finally get some help, they were

doctor ordered, and then just one month later they were gone.

Somehow magically I am to go to their offices or make phone calls (if

this was so simple,

British Columbia is denying needed services to its citizens, the elderly

the disabled and the indigent, those who cannot muster a protest,

Elderly people are being evicted from long term care facilities with no

place to go. Long-time married couples are forced to part ways (in

their 90's). Families are expected to take them in when they are

already stretched to the limits under a government which taxes to 52%

plus sundry taxes (sales tax, GST, property tax, transport tax, gas tax,

sin tax). Doctors are again threatening to srike, when the patients

are already on extended waiting lists from all the other bed closures and

other employee strikes. Add this to an already shrinking medical

professional numbers (40% of specialist will likely retire, many doctors

and nurses working south of the border). Food supplement, PT and

other therapies and homecare are cut no matter how high the need.

We have only 2 opposition members in the legislature (which officially

does not constitute an opposition). The impact on the upper-middle

and upper classes is minimal, in fact corporations are being given

grants, tax cuts and bail-outs. Those of us on the scrap heap have

no friends there.

I wrote to my elected representative (one of the two remaining opposition

members) that we should have and 'adopt a pauper' program, where wealthy

families could adopt the unfortunate. They would never have to see

us (that might be embarrasing for them), but, we could send letters and

photographs to let them know we are grateful. Perhaps Sally

Struthers could donate some time. In return we could become tax

deductions, and they could pat themselves on the back for being great

humanitarians. Where I live the mood is getting ugly and

desperate.

____________________________________

I have had no problem living in this world as a woman.

I was the first female licensed auto salesperson in Ontario (1974), I

sold Mazdas (rotary), BMW's and Saab's

I owned with my husband an aircrapt maintenance company (Horizon

Aircraft Services) 1980-1984), worked on avionics and wing repair you can

use metal tape for almost anything), I managed teams of mechanics -

mostly men - no problem

I worked as a journalist, no problems

I worked in security, am a really good shot, and was cleared at all

security levels

I was a manager of computer services - no problem

I also danced with over ten dance and ballet companies, I could walk

on a wing and inspect rivets during the day and perform a dance

performance at night, while raising three children

I ran for public office, did not win, but I was well in the race,

taken seriously

I outearned my husband 3-1 during our entire marriage - no problem -

to his credit it never bothered him

I have had lots of doctors who treated me with dignity and respect,

just not lately

most of my friends are men, some are women, and none of them are

narrow-minded

I expect to be taken seriously, I do not accept excuses for being

badly treated, patronized or condescended to, and neither should anyone

else.At Saturday 5/25/02 05:32 AM, you wrote:

Folks, get off it! Everyone

faces doctors that don't have a clue. I

just wonder how my customers feel about me sometimes!

Please remember, that in general we hire our doctors and can fire

them.

I realize this is not always the case. Even when it is not, you

have an

avenue of grievance. The important thing is to stay calm and

professional about the situation.

And yes, there is some sexual discrimination in play. My wife and

I

have gone shopping for a car, that she was purchasing. Not

me. Her

money, her choice. Well of course we get to the car lot and the

sales

'thing' would ONLY talk with me. I march into the sales

manager's

office and explain what a slime ball his sales rep has been, and we

WILL

take our business elsewhere. My wife goes several times and

hears

statements such as " Bring your husband back and we can

talk... " . The

difference. She does not confront. This is a male vs.

female

difference. Women on general attempt to socialize and not

confront.

Men tend to see the world in pecking orders. And I REFUSE to have

some

person paid minimal wage treat me or my wife as if I do not exist.

I

confront.

As a result of this difference doctors do pay attention to me. Or

I

fire them. I had a neurologist decide to blame the patient and tell

me

it was just anxiety. I confronted. I wondered where he

Diploma of

Psychiatry was located. I had not seen it. I then asked her

to prove

to me that it was anxiety. She could not, but did not want to

change

her diagnosis. I walked and found another doctor. That

simple. But I

bet she will think twice before blaming the patient again.

Doctors are no different than the rest of us. Believe me. I

see

similar behaviors in computer 'experts' all the time. When in

doubt,

blame the customer. When in doubt, assume the client is

incompetent.

When in doubt ... And you know what? I confront them all the

time.

And I also see more male customers confront us when someone pulls such

a

maneuver on them.

So, get off it! Doctors are people too. If you don't want

them to act

as if they are on a pedestal, don't treat them that way.

Regards,

=jbf=

B. Fisher

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