Re: Dr. Herzenberg's comment!!

[Guest guest]

I have to agree with Joanne that this was taken wrong. Dr.

Herzenberg has always had nothing but good things to say about

us " internet parents " . He has praised us and told me he often thinks

about all the children he has operated on in the past for clubfoot

correction before starting the Ponseti method. He is a true disciple

of Dr. Ponseti and honors the man. When I asked him why he doesn't

wear rubber gloves when he casts he looked at me and said with a

grin " that's how Dr. Ponseti does it " .

> Hi All,

>

> I'm so sorry Dr. Herzenberg's comment about us internet parents has

been

> misconstrued!!

>

> At his symposium, he actually said he prefers us internet parents!

It's so

> much easier for him because we're already committed to the

treatment and

> somewhat educated about it, so it's not such a steep learning

curve,

> especially those of us who have already been through previous

treatments

> with doctors not as adept at or committed to the method. Although

in some

> ways it can be more difficult for him because in some cases it has

forced

> him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and do surgery!

>

> Anyway, I truly don't feel his description of us was intended to be

> negative. Many of us do tend to be " surgery phobic " once we know

the reality

> of surgery for clubfoot and the long term outcomes and would be

more

> resistant to suggestions of any kind of surgical procedure.

>

> One doctor in Brasil indicated that she felt some internet parents

were

> causing more harm than good because she's having a hard time

getting doctors

> to accept the Ponseti method and then they were trying to tell

doctors new

> to the method what they should be doing if they weren't following

the

> protocol exactly.

>

> Best, Joanne W.

[Guest guest]

Li'l Zoe's doctor (sy in Atlanta) warned me about you internet

parents. I mentioned Yahoo way back when and he said to look out for

you guys, " they don't always know what they are talking about " . What

a crack up. I wish he was more receptive to a parent having some

knowledge about what is going on. It is clear he does not like to be

questioned. I guess the main thing is Zoe's foot looks great, I

wouldn't mind feeling warm a fuzzy at least one appt though. I can

feel myself getting defensive when I start driving toward his office.

Louisa

Rachael 6-27-99

Zoe 2-22-04 RCF FAB 16/7

> > Hi All,

> >

> > I'm so sorry Dr. Herzenberg's comment about us internet parents

has

> been

> > misconstrued!!

> >

> > At his symposium, he actually said he prefers us internet

parents!

> It's so

> > much easier for him because we're already committed to the

> treatment and

> > somewhat educated about it, so it's not such a steep learning

> curve,

> > especially those of us who have already been through previous

> treatments

> > with doctors not as adept at or committed to the method. Although

> in some

> > ways it can be more difficult for him because in some cases it

has

> forced

> > him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and do surgery!

> >

> > Anyway, I truly don't feel his description of us was intended to

be

> > negative. Many of us do tend to be " surgery phobic " once we know

> the reality

> > of surgery for clubfoot and the long term outcomes and would be

> more

> > resistant to suggestions of any kind of surgical procedure.

> >

> > One doctor in Brasil indicated that she felt some internet

parents

> were

> > causing more harm than good because she's having a hard time

> getting doctors

> > to accept the Ponseti method and then they were trying to tell

> doctors new

> > to the method what they should be doing if they weren't following

> the

> > protocol exactly.

> >

> > Best, Joanne W.

[Guest guest]

LOL.

KK

> > > Hi All,

> > >

> > > I'm so sorry Dr. Herzenberg's comment about us internet parents

> has

> > been

> > > misconstrued!!

> > >

> > > At his symposium, he actually said he prefers us internet

> parents!

> > It's so

> > > much easier for him because we're already committed to the

> > treatment and

> > > somewhat educated about it, so it's not such a steep learning

> > curve,

> > > especially those of us who have already been through previous

> > treatments

> > > with doctors not as adept at or committed to the method.

Although

> > in some

> > > ways it can be more difficult for him because in some cases it

> has

> > forced

> > > him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and do

surgery!

> > >

> > > Anyway, I truly don't feel his description of us was intended

to

> be

> > > negative. Many of us do tend to be " surgery phobic " once we

know

> > the reality

> > > of surgery for clubfoot and the long term outcomes and would be

> > more

> > > resistant to suggestions of any kind of surgical procedure.

> > >

> > > One doctor in Brasil indicated that she felt some internet

> parents

> > were

> > > causing more harm than good because she's having a hard time

> > getting doctors

> > > to accept the Ponseti method and then they were trying to tell

> > doctors new

> > > to the method what they should be doing if they weren't

following

> > the

> > > protocol exactly.

> > >

> > > Best, Joanne W.

[Guest guest]

I was also offended by the comments made by both doctors

about " internet parents " .

As professionals they should be more aware of what they say,

especially in an e-mail which can be easily forwarded or posted to a

list like this. I thought it showed a real disregard for " internet

parents " and lumped us all into a category of people who are " surgery

phobic " whatever that means! In my opinion it was meant as a negative

stereotype.

People who are professionals, doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. all

need to be aware of their comments. Whether they meant to or not they

offended many of us and those comments should never have been put in

an e-mail. Doctors may talk about parents that way in private or over

the phone, but they should never publicly say things like that.

That's my opinion as a former teacher.

and bilateral clubfoot 11/10/03 dbb23/7