[ ARC forum 2 ]

Onward, ever onward!

Written by Paul B. at 25 Nov 2002 12:16:35:

As an answer to: Re: Two steps forward, one back. written by Val at 25 Nov 2002 11:35:06:

> She actually said it in a way that sounded like "ok, you can watch a bit of telly but than you have to do your homework" although her actual words were "ok, we'll try this but if it doesn't work (meaning: and it probably won't work) you will have to get circumcised".

Then I think you seem to have picked her attitude well.

> My parents are doctors in Italy and when I was a kid, my mother's always taken me to see a dermatologist when I had skin problems, a otolaryngologist when I had hearing problems and so on.

Ah, but if your parents are doctors, it implies that they took you to a specialist when you had a problem that they, functioning in effect as your general practitioner, could not sort out themselves. That is the difference - they had the knowledge to determine when referral was necessary. In their absence, you as well as everyone else, really need a good general ("Family") doctor.

There is a vexed question about whether doctors should treat their own family, or in more realistic terms, to what degree or extent they should treat their own family. It is suggested that with family, there is not the necessary degree of detachment to dispassionately "step back" and look at each problem clearly and in its entirety.

While this may certainly be a problem, I feel on the other hand that if a doctor is not confident in his ability to assess his own family members (and I should mention, I am primarily considering children), then he has to ask whether his skills are up to the task of assessing anyone else!

> in Italy he was able to see a neurologist, did an encephalogram that helped point out the specific type of migraine he suffered from

Wow! Diagnosing headaches from an EEG! That's remarkable (I find this apparent suggestion highly suspicious, other than that the test was simply part of making sure he did not have a brain tumour, but perhaps that is what you actually meant).

> and was prescribed a therapy that has now solved his problem.

To be honest, most doctors hate treating headaches, and pain in general, especially where there is a tendency to "escalation" in the requirements for painkillers, so they may overlook prophylactic (preventative) therapies for migraine, such as propranolol (Inderal) or pizotifen (Sandomigran).

> The nurse just came in to look for some files.

I am still amused as to why this might be. Never mind.

Cheerio!


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