I spent the weekend in Houston with a friend of mine who's terminally ill with cancer. She's just gotten out of the hospital with pneumonia and has a wonderful doc, but this wonderful doc had to out of the country over the 4th because his brother was dying and left his patients in the "care" of an associate!!!!

My friend had to have some antibiotics (essential to her living at this time) and had a little problem with the insurance paying for them. Turns out the insuance powers that be needed the doctor to call them and say it was "essential". This JERK on call would NOT make that call (he was just too damn busy) - LSS - we ended up paying over $500 for enough of these pills to get her thru the weekend till this morning when her "good" doc got back and called the insurance company (took about 15 minutes to get it straighted out).

I think if I could have gotten hold of that SOB on call I would have drawn and quartered him (her daughter was trying to find where he lived - we were actually going to go pay him a visit). Her mother has so little time and we have to deal with jerks like this! He also 'refused" to give her any pain meds because (get this) she wasn't his patient (we did call another doc who knew her and got some - she only needed a couple beause she'd had some fluid drained out of her lung and it hurt when she raised her arm for a couple of days, but JERK didn't even listen to that part). The daughter is going to file a complaint and try to get him fired, but it was just so uncalled for.



But the good news -- my friend went in for her radiation today and they weighed her. Since last Thursday (I arrived Thursday night) she'd gained 4 pounds. She ATE well while I was there - I'm a terrible BULLY (and a damn good cook  :)).

But CHers aren't the only ones who have to deal with IDIOT doctors. They're EVERYWHERE just everywhere!!!!

Hugs BD :-*

Barbara, you are a good person, and a valued friend!

Bless you!

Chuck

(Did I REALLY say that?)

Unfortunately, it seems the system scares them into gross inaction.

Be bold and run the risk of bein sued up the yingyang, or don't take any action and put up with a few people who can only make their life mildly inconvenient.

It's one of the major flaws in our health care system.

Brew wrote on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 7:51pm:

Unfortunately, it seems the system scares them into gross inaction. Be bold and run the risk of bein sued up the yingyang, or don't take any action and put up with a few people who can only make their life mildly inconvenient. It's one of the major flaws in our health care system.

Bill, I must strongly, but respectfully disagree!  It is not the medical system that is out of whack here, but the legal system.  

This Dr is a jerk who ought to have his license yanked, but that is not the medical system that is doing the suing, but trial lawyers who have learned to make a killing by bringing a frivolous lawsuit on contingency, knowing The Drs. ins co will settle, and the rates will just be passed on to the patients.

Jerry

We're saying the same thing, Jerry. What's wrong with the medical profession is the legal profession.

I think we just said it differently.

Either way, I hope I have friends like Barb if and when that's me lying on that hospital bed.

I heard that!

Good posts all of you! but especially you Barb. Good for you to get mad. For now, everybody deserves your rath.

This jerk sounds like one of the doctors than gets paid for how many patients he can see in the shortest time by institutions or his own peculiar take on the human condition. There are more of these creeps every day now that it's expense and volume rather than compassion and even competence that rules the day. Referring people to others rather than dealing with your pain himself is also suspect. These guys are often likely to do some self referrals to providers and systems that are part of their income. I know it sounds conspiratorial but it's very often true. I have direct experience with this.

Make them know you are POed.

Charlie

Unfortunately Barbara there everywhere....! In the meantime you keep up the bullying and good cooking and I hope your friend stays quite comfortable.


Lefty..!