Comments on: Review Finds Increase in Hospital Clients Leaving Against Advice

By: Pearl

Pearl — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:00:03 +0000

Harriet, that still leaves four out of five that had insurance who left and didn’t have to. The more telling sentence is that the majority were men. I don’t know one man who will go to the doctor of his own accord. Where this attitude about health sprung from amongst men I’m unsure but it’s irresponsible at best and life endangering at worst.

By: HarrietR.

HarrietR. — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:31:40 +0000

Did it occur to them that the patient may be unable to pay for a stay in hospital and left only because of that? About one in five patients who left against medical advice were uninsured. That’s what it said.

By: Jacinth

Jacinth — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:09:45 +0000

Its basically that – the ultimate choice is the client’s and the more medically educated you are, the more you lean towards your own wisdom.

By: Teach

Teach — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:36:07 +0000

I know Yolanda jests however her point is valid, as is Sugarlove’s and A. Sceptic’s. Patients don’t have to rely on the doctor’s knowledge alone and that’s a good thing. What’s missing is politeness. You can challenge or disregard medical advice without being belligerent. I’ve heard tales from nurses on ER shifts on a Saturday night that would make your hair curl about abusive(and often drunken) patients.

It would be interesting to know how many of those patients returned within days because they went against the advice.

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:55:55 +0000

Hey Sugarlove, didn’t you get the memo? Since the Net came online, everybody’s an expert LOL.

By: Sugarlove

Sugarlove — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:38:53 +0000

A Sceptic, you said: “As I began, I wouldn’t consider you to be competent in the field of medicine.”

That’s good then, because neither would I. Your need to repeat it infers you assumed I am a medical provider.

Did I claim to be a doctor? No I did not. Let’s be absolutely clear here. I’m not in any way shape or form a medical provider.

Did I say don’t question them? No I did not.

Please refrain from jumping to conclusions and assume I’m speaking from that perspective or have a God complex for doctors. It was an observation of how things have changed.

Doctors are human too and make mistakes, of course they do.
Anyone who is not a doctor however – unless extremely arrogant – cannot assume, no matter how much they read, to know as much as a doctor does about medicine. I’m talking about having respect for their years of dedication and training. Nowhere did I say follow them blindly. There’s a difference.

By: Scott Earisman

Scott Earisman — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:23:03 +0000

Perhaps we need to start by asking about why clients are leaving the hospital earlier than their providers are recommending. It may have to do with work or death wishes, but may also have to do with finances, nursing shortages, two working parents in a household so that childcare is an issue, quality of care at the hospital, or other reasons I cannot imagine.

I agree with A. sceptic that the ideal relationship with healthcare providers is a partnership, and so we need to be careful about blaming one side or the other, especially considering the other players in the room–hospital staff, insurance companies, families, etc.

By: A. Sceptic

A. Sceptic — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:36:16 +0000

Hello Sugarlove

Your kind of “God Complex” for Doctors is why, in my opinion, you would be unacceptable as a medical provider.

You wrote, “When I was young what the doctor (sic) said was law. You didn’t deviate from the treatment suggested and you certainly didn’t challenge their diagnosis or advice.”

With all due respect,

* what the Doctor says is not law: It is medical opinion and advice.

* I consult with my Physician, and we discuss his advice. Then I make an informed decision about following/not following that advice.

* As an informed consumer/patient, I decide if I will deviate from the treatment suggested.

* I read my chart, and I point out errors to my Physician. After we discuss those errors, he holographically corrects them.

* I have a copy of my chart — my entire chart — from every Doctor/clinic/hospital that provides me services. Does HIPPA come to your mind?

As I began, I wouldn’t consider you to be competent in the field of medicine.

P.S. My Doctor is a phenomenally good physician, and I have great respect for his abilities.

By: Judo

Judo — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:01:04 +0000

Some people are just so into their work that even illness cannot keep them away from it. For some others, it is their unwillingness to actually get well. Strange as it may sound, but some people want death to embrace them at the slightest of provocations… These are not healthy signs, and if the figures of this report are anything to go by, hospital workers, counsellors and doctors need more patience in trying to explain to the patients just how wrong their decision of going home sooner can be.

By: Sugarlove

Sugarlove — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:35:53 +0000

Respect for the expertise of medical professionals nowadays is sorely lacking. When I was young what the doctor said was law. You didn’t deviate from the treatment suggested and you certainly didn’t challenge their diagnosis or advice.