Being an ACTIVE patient has saved mee from serious complications at least
twice.  I have a severe latex allergy, and even though it's noted on my
chart in bold red letters, it's been overlooked.  As I've watched doctors
and nurses don gloves, I''ve noticed them use latex gloves, and have pointed
it out.  In both situations, I've been thanked for being observant.  When I
was in my late teens, I had an X-ray test performed and didn't think about
latex being involved.  It was, and I went into anaphylactic shock on the
X-ray table.  The radiologist wasn't in the office at the time, and the only
RN in the building at the time was my mom, who took over and administered
epinephrine while the radiologist came over from the hospital (a block and a
half away).

Health care, in optimal situations, should be a team approach, with the
patient and the physician as "co-captains."

On Sun, Oct 5, 2008 at 8:55 AM, Kathy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Being a "good" patient killed my dad and delayed the detection of his
> cancer.  So I question everything!
>
> Kat
>
>
> Carla MacInnis wrote:
>
>> Being a bad patient saved my life several years ago. An ER visit, seen by
>> an ER moron could have killed me. I presented with chest pain; she diagnosed
>> indigestion and prescribed Propulsid. Had I taken it, I'd be dead. She
>> didn't do any sort of cardiac exam. I was later seen by a friend of my
>> doctor dad, who along with 3 cardiologists diagnosed me with Grade 2 Aortic
>> Insufficiency. Had I take then propulsid, I'd have had an acute arrhthymia,
>> and being an hour away from hospital, and our ambulance not having an
>> onboard defibrillator at the time, my 'golden hour' would have expired, as
>> would have I.  This ER doc even asked me what cerebral palsy is. Major DUH.
>> I lodged a formal complaint with the Director of ER medicine, telling her
>> that those with since-birth or any other long-term disabiling condition need
>> to be listened to and HEARD. My doctor, who makes housecalls, was informed;
>> he was furious. Now, if I need hospital care, I'll go to another hospital.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Carla
>> http://home.netscape.ca/~terrier
>> -----------------------
>>
>> To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:
>>
>> http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy
>>
>>
>>
> -----------------------
>
> To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:
>
> http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy
>



-- 


Kendall

An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.

-George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950

-----------------------

To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:

http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy