Doctors and Plumbers... Part III... by Jamil Shawwa

The issues persist when tests do not give a clear picture and doctors scramble to either assume the worst, speculate or improvise to show that they know what they are talking about. Patients now are like customers in fast food outlets, fixed menus, same ingredients; most doctors do not have either the knowledge, training or the time to dig deep. They admitted it, that they cannot dig deep, software and machines do the job and prescribe. They do a biopsy and they say that it will take few weeks, then they call the following day and say, tests results are ready but it is inconclusive and that they need to do another biopsy. Another thing that is big these days, which is being frank with the patient and straightforward about their condition, which sometimes can come across as obnoxious especially if the same doctor repeats the same thing. the conversation was as follow- I just want to tell you that it is cancer, I mean that is it, it is cancer,  but we do not know how serious it is and how big, and where and how and if and but. Imagine how such nonsense would help a patient who is supposedly with a serious disease. You signal to the doctor to be discreet but then they ask you- Sir, are you in the medical field, and you answer, no I am a lawyer by education, conversation ends. Right now, there are many players in the medical field, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals experimenting medicines, labs, specialists, malpractice and lawyers ready to jump on medical mistakes; the fear of being sued for wrongful diagnosis, I mean the doctor also performs with fear of being sued for either negligence, stupidity or just bad luck. Therefore, we have also to understand that doctors perform under tremendous pressure, I am not going to be so hard on them, it is not easy, I fully understand. Insurance companies decide as well, on the type of treatment covered, unless a doctor overrides them and usually it is not easy or that common. In order for you to get a custom tailored treatment, you have either to be a millionaire, top executive in companies, top government official, or work for institutions that have excellent coverage. Still, there is one factor that could make a difference which is the power of your perseverance, insisting to get the exams, being proactive on your condition, if you can, and just keep trying. It is tough to be sick, and may God bless you and have mercy on you if you have one of those plumbers/doctors.