Doctors MD's B.S. patients
 

CKC radio one - interview discussion - with one ER doc, a resident, and another MD.


So the discussion here was on do you BS patients, if so, why so, and do you know of other doctors who do this?


I only caught the tail end of the program, but the subject matter popped my eyes a bit. I never thought that a doc would actually give a BS diagnosis just to get a patient out of the exam room.......


But apparently this ER doc does do this - rationale time saving for him and the ER. No harm done according to him.


Other reasons given, is to help secure patient confidence in the doctor, as apparently there is some positive association between confidence and improved patient outcomes.


I wonder how others feel about this?


When I worked in traditional health care field, it was hard enough for patients to actually get the name of their condition correct, and they had little idea of what they were actually diagnosed with. To me it is very dangerous indeed to give a BS diagnosis, as there actually just might be something going on that in your *cursory* if it was cursory examination, did not bring to light an immediate diagnosis. And also if that self-same patient seeks rehab you have a suspect diagnosis, that the next treating health practioner has no idea about.


I see nothing wrong with a Doc telling me, as of yet, I can't pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms, but here is a go forward plan. And yes, I do know that there is pressure placed upon the Doc to come up with a diagnosis to support coverage for certain workplace injuries, and or for private insurance coverage.


What are your thoughts as a layperson, would you like to be given a BS diagnosis?

No, I absolutely would not want a BS Dx - it goes against everything in me, as a person and as a nurse. I either want an accurate Dx, or want to be told "we just don't know, but here's what we recommend next...".

I, as a patient, have been subject to a BS diagnosis and then witnessed professional "in-fighting" as a result of the disagreement regarding my diagnosis!


Very uncomfortable and I feel that my diagnosis was as a result of the pressures you mentioned above as well as complacency, arrogance and a general, "Next number, please" mentality.


As a researcher of mental health, I am privy to various reasons that BS diagnoses are provided via mental health professionals as well as MD's. There are valid reasons which are always constantly researched in the effort to address for the betterment of the diagnostic process.


However, humans are not infallible. Therefore, acknowledgement of these reasons amongst clinicians will not eliminate the B.S but will hopefully minimize it...


By the way, for the record, the BS diagnosis I got sucked and was wrong.

We need to find drs we have confidence in and research them carefully. As a nurse I can tell you a bs diagnosis is entered into your record and can follow you for life. With computers and records now available it is easier to access past information.

I was watching Dr. Phil the other day and he had a woman on there that was diagnosed with 72 problems for which she was taking multiple medications. So this also brings up polypharmecia (multiple medications) especially in the elderly and pts who go to multiple drs and receive multiple Rx. If these meds are not identified to all caring for this pt the chance of the pt receiving a medication that interacts is increased or not appropriate for this pt.

Oh well, I suppose this post belongs in the rant thread:rolleyes:

That woman on Dr Phil was CRAZY!! I really have never considered that a Dr would give a BS dx. This is news to me. Learn something new everyday.

Cherie, just to clarify my post, I'm not saying Dr Phil's diagnosis was bs. This woman had been to multiple drs and gotten diagnosed and medicated. Dr Phil was attempting to get her treated and back to her family and live a normal life.

My comment was not referring to Dr Phil but to the crazy lady and the fact that I was totally unaware that drs gave bs dxs.

I am sure that a BS diagnosis is even beyond unethical, it sends a patient down a road that could actually hurt ones health instead of adhering to the oath they take to work to do the opposite.

I think some day Dr. Phil will be shut down for the way the Foundation money is being spent but that's just me. Just MY humble opinion.

How is the money from the foundation being spent? I thought it was used for sending all those losers to rehab.

Correction I indicated a radio channel called CKC and I meant CBC. LOL dog clubs on my brain CBC is Canadian Broadcast Co. not CKC Canadian Kennel club.

:thumbup:
Wouldn't it be considered falsifying the medical record? Which is a Felony.

Yeah here is the whole thing I don't understand, why would anyone agree to go on a National RAdio station and admit to a BS diagnosis? Are they not the least concerned with how their licensing organization such as the CMA or the AMA would look at this?


Do these Docs here in Canada actually think they are immune to censure, if not prosecution? This is not a *cutie* topic, it drives at the most basic of basics the Hippocratic oath.


I am incensed at the very idea of a BS diagnosis, and I don't care if in actuality for that particular person at that particular time, it did no eventual harm to. How does that doc know ... the one who did the BS diagnosis? It does huge harm to the millions upon millions of folks who rely on docs to give them their *honest* opinion, we or at least I trusted docs to do this!!


Very very disturbing to me.