Despite the marvellous care I receive, and I am fortunate to be under one
of the best hospitals, which deservedly holds a fine reputation, I have to agree
with anonymous' comment. The 'old school' of the doctor or surgeon making his rounds
followed by his entourage is standard procedure in most hospitals. Standing
at the foot of your bed, with all eyes upon you, not bothering to say good
morning, or using your name, is insulting and lacks compassion, referring to
you in the third party, talking about you as if you are merely 'a disease' and
not a person at all. Then after discussing your case, the group leave, not waiting
a second, should you want to ask a simple question, they hurry on to the next
patient without pause or consideration for the patient. I am sorry to say that
this practice still exists today, having personally experienced it a number of times, and although I have become accustomed to this archaic practice; fully
realising that time is of the essence and 'the doctor's rounds' are not a social
call, there is a need for change in attitude. I hope if you are a doctor
reading this, you will please take note, as from a patient's viewpoint, this behaviour
not only lacks empathy and is upsetting,
but quite frankly makes you appear in a bad light. Please address a
patient with courtesy, a smile, and most of all, don't
call me "Gaucher with Parkinson's" …..I have a name, and it's Elaine
Benton!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
I have a name
Thank you 'anonymous' who left me a comment on Friday's blog
regarding "Parkinson's
does not define you". It
was sadly a well-founded comment, and who ever you are, have clearly spent much
time, like myself in hospital. The comment (for those of you who may not have
seen it) was: "In hospital so many times Doctors on there rounds would say
on arriving at my bed this is Parkinson's. Naturally this is not my name but as
you say people are sometimes called by their illness and not their name. Not
good."
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The only thing I can think of that would be acceptable in the medical world as a reason for doctors to address patients as a 'disease/illness' is the idea that it would humanize the patient and cause them to become more emotionally involved with them. This is a field that requires critical thinking, but when facing the actual patient, about whom they are talking, it is downright ignorant and insulting not to acknowledge the patient. At the very least they can use their name once by thanking them for your allowing them to have such intimate information for the sake of their own learning. This goes for the experienced doctor as well as those just entering the field. A diplomatic word or two to someone in charge or whom you have been dealing with for a long time may allow you some influence in the matter. Good luck!
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