REMINDER: I AM POSTING A NEW TOPIC ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OR PERHAPS TWICE A WEEK. HOWEVER, IF YOU DON'T FIND A NEW TOPIC POSTED, THERE ARE AS OF MARCH 2013 OVER 900 TOPIC THREADS TO WHICH YOU CAN READ AND WRITE COMMENTS. I WILL BE AWARE OF EACH COMMENTARY AND MAY COME BACK WITH A REPLY.
TO FIND A TOPIC OF INTEREST TO YOU ON THIS BLOG, SIMPLY TYPE IN THE NAME OR WORDS RELATED TO THE TOPIC IN THE FIELD IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE AT TOP OF THE PAGE AND THEN CLICK ON “SEARCH BLOG”. WITH WELL OVER 900 TOPICS, MOST ABOUT GENERAL OR SPECIFIC ETHICAL ISSUES BUT NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC DATE OR EVENT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND WHAT YOU WANT. IF YOU DON’T PLEASE WRITE TO ME ON THE FEEDBACK THREAD OR BY E-MAIL DoktorMo@aol.com
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Patient Modesty: Volume 69
As we continue on communicating about all the issues of
patient modesty, I find that I may have been suggesting a wrong approach for my
visitors to help resolve these issues: "speaking up" to physicians and the medical system.
"Up" suggests that the patient is somehow less significant and is
inferior in the patient-doctor/medical system relationship. And I don't believe this is true. Even though the
patient may be the one who is ill, to meet the medical system's professional responsibilities,
the system cannot act alone and must give equal attention to the patient as to
their own personal and operational interests.
So, as we move forward on this blog thread, working out ways
to communicate the needs of those who write here, let's change the suggestion
to "speak to..." as part of a more level "speaking field"
rather than the wrong view of "speaking up".
But as we begin Volume 69, let's remember that we have had 9
years and 68 volumes to "moan and groan" about the painful issues
that are seen but now is the time to change the discourse to one of presenting
a positive approach to attaining the needed relief by showing how the
participants here plan and have already started to change the system to meet
their goals.
..Maurice.
Graphic: From Google Images and modified by me with ArtRage.
NOTICE: AS OF TODAY NOVEMBER 14, 2014
"PATIENT MODESTY: VOLUME 69 WILL BE CLOSED FOR FURTHER COMMENTS. YOU CAN
CONTINUE POSTING COMMENTS ON VOLUME 70.
Patient Modesty: Volume 68
As I have previously noted on this long running thread, there
appears to be a metamorphosis from repeated descriptions in various details of
personal physical modesty experiences and injuries to more generalized conversations with a philosophical, ethical or legal point of discussion. It is these latter postings which will be
more directed toward discussing ways to actually change the medical system,
either piecemeal or overall, to prevent or mitigate the possibilities that such
personal experiences as noted in previous Volumes will happen. It is my opinion now, whether or not the
experiences written here are statistical outliers, the problems previously
described on this thread and the potential consequences are of sufficient
importance that changes in the medical system should be made. ..Maurice.
ADDENDUM 8-9-2014
The following Comments by Doug Capra and followed by myself, I think are important and pertinent in setting the goals of this blog thread after 9 years of presentations here.
"P.S.- I just thought of an explanation why many of our writers here over the past 9 years have stopped writing or have stopped visiting here. Could it be that all they have seen here is personal experiences and argument with me but absolutely no constructive approaches or attempts to make the necessary changes. Can't you all do more? ..Maurice."
That's precisely it, Maurice. For me, most of this thread is same old, same old, same old. Occasionally, someone provides the URL for an interesting article. Sometimes there's an interesting insight. I know there are some on this thread who are really doing things. I applaud them. I check this thread every once in a while, but I just don't have time to go through the repetitions to get to the new.
I'm on two hospital boards, one a governing board, and I'm on a standing committee for another hospital. I'm trying to work on the inside as a patient advocate. Working with doctors and nurses and with the crisis issues most hospital are dealing with these days, has given me insight into what's discussed here. I've gained great respect for most doctors and nurses. I make no excuses for blatant medical abuse and modesty violations. But more people on this thread need to get into the trenches and work from there.
We talk about trust and good relationships with doctors, nurses, mid-levels, cna's and patient techs. If we really mean that, we need to understand that it's about the relationship, not about any one individual. Frankly, it's not all about the patient. It's about the relationship.
That doesn't mean the patient must tolerate abuse or blatant violations of modesty. But, like everything else in life, if you don't speak up and fight, you'll occasional be taken advantage of.
I hesitated to even post this -- because I know some here will want to debate with me. I don't have time for that. I'm too busy with other projects. But I will always work to defend a patient dignity. You can be sure of that.
And following up with Doug Capra's "we need to understand that it's about the relationship, not about any one individual. Frankly, it's not all about the patient. It's about the relationship", how can the relationship be improved from both sides, the patient and the medical system and its providers? Education. Education to and for both sides which is still missing. What education?
The System needs to be educated about all of these concerns based on experiences which have been written here over the years and what have been the limitations both practical and psychologic limiting communication and to what degree the System's responses have been inappropriate and inadequate (or even surprisingly the opposite).
The patients, on the other hand, need to be educated by the System as to the current realities, practicalities and limitations of the System. (One reality is the unprofessional or "criminal" physician that can "pop up".) But both patients and the System need to be aware of the facts in order for the trust on both sides be strengthened and maintained.
With the education to both sides, then there can be a real chance for some creative cooperation to mitigate or even fully resolve the issues and problems related to each of the parties.
That is why, the next step here is to formulate ways to educate the System from the individual healthcare provider to the institutions. And, hopefully, with the help of Doug in his institutional relationship and position and mine in medical education can, in our ways, encourage the System to provide better education about their "current realities, practicalities and limitations" of the System.
You know, knowledge can be potentially therapeutic, as with all "therapy" if properly applied. ..Maurice.
NOTICE: AS OF
TODAY AUGUST 24, 2014 "PATIENT MODESTY: VOLUME 68 WILL BE CLOSED FOR
FURTHER COMMENTS. YOU CAN CONTINUE POSTING COMMENTS ON VOLUME 69
Graphic: "Changing Course" (my title) From Google Images
