iRADiX

The patient who is primarily seeking tertiary gain is a different kettle of fish.

Fundamental to the doctor-patient relationship is honesty and self-respect.

One needs to act politely and with courtesy, but not take part in such affairs.

Roger N.Lewy, MD

Professor of Orthopedics,

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York (1)

Even the local police was not allowed to come into the security zone.

CEOs and Medical Champions

In my milieu of practice, both in India and Libya, I did not find the approximately 80% usage of Internet for health information by the general population which North American studies show. According to a study in Canada increasing number of patients are bringing Internet-based information to the physicians. (3) The self-diagnosed patient who comes with a bundle of reports and downloads, not hearing what the physician has to say, non compliant and seeing you either to join his “Internet-Health-Team” or looking for someone to sue, can be wished all the best to find the Medical-Champion in the next city.

But in the net, it is written like this?!

Take a read

Around a decade ago, I used to get phone calls from a very smart Neurology registrar (post DM) who after having discussed the case in the ward rounds headed by a Professor, would have the Radiology textbook open in front of him while he quizzed me about the Radiology report and its implications. That inspired me to read some Neurology, to try to keep the balance and take the ball back into his court.

With the information explosion on the net, and informed readers trying to make their own “health maps” one finds questions like...(1) What are the indications of knee transplant? And the types of options available. (Gone are the days when Radiologists could write Implant noted in situ…and get away with it) (2) What is the difference between fibromyalgia and neuralgia?

(3) What is the difference between Fransceschetti’s and Treacher Collin’s syndrome in a case of Mandibulofacial dysostosis?

In coming blogs we can examine some of the issues arising from Clinicians setting the pace to report better/differently and also the new WWW armed New-Age patient who belongs to the Cult of “Latest-Technology-Treatment” who knows a lot of jargon about Thyrotoxicosis, cosmetic surgery and autosomal dominant diseases with variable penetration!