Having had a bad run of illness, the need for surgery and the likes, I've had a good run in with many health professions over the last month or so. All in all having grown up in the days of the trusted family GPs, gone are the day when you could have a friendly chat with them about so and so. It seems that we're simply seen more as clients than patients and on a factory line at that! My recent visit to the local doctor as my family GP has retired was a check up that lasted less than 10min. All in all it was in, poke and prod, provide prescription then a courteous 'good bye' as he stared at his computer screen.

This was even worse with my surgery consult (separate problem). Same thing basically yet it cost me an arm and a chair. I mean, the doctor was friendly enough yet lacked the compassion and reassurance I remember feeling from the doctors of the old. Everything was straight to the point as if their time with me was costing them their life. Furthermore I was funnelled into the next room to be served by a clearly sunday session recovering nurse to finish off paper work. The silence in the room was deafening as my questions were answered bluntly before being shoo'd to the administration staff.

Allied health while better, fared the same. Even here the local physio seemed to lack compassion. My highlight of my appointment was how jovial and caring the administration staff were.

So what has happened to our health system? Is it really that hard for health professions to even show a slight bit of care these days? Allied health don't seem too bad but so many doctors I have visited seem to see me as a treasure chest they are prying open to help pay for their university debt and what not.

They must not want to be held liable if you slip over on their soap.

Wife had to admitted back into theatre due to having had gauze and suture material left inside her for 5 weeks before they done a scan to determine inorganic material, post a C section, this caused a large haematoma that got internally infected, First thing the surgeon highlighted was these things happen and had a copy of the waver we signed, at 2am in the morning after being emergency amboed to bunbury St john of go hospital after 40 hours of labour in margs. Wife is super clean and she wasn't allowed to have a shower for those 5 weeks because of the wicks shes had into her stomach

Think the practice is called "CYA"

Guess everybody makes mistakes but is relying on a waver attributing to surgeons really not giving a foook?

Reward outweighs all

I have 2 recent examples of the so called profesional who work under this system; I was injured at work and eventually the Doc determined I needed an arthroscopy, 6-8 weeks of work then back to work. Well , after 9 mths of sh-t, and 2 arthroscopy's I changed doctors , had another MRI, showed fragments STILL floating around the knee and muscle caught in the joint line.Had 3rd arthroscopy ,doc showed REAL interest and concern , unlike the arragant south african prick that did the first 2. Anyway 10 weeks later all is back to almost good as new.
Second incedent is ALOT more serious, my mates wife went in for day surgery to have a biospy on her chest. He dropped her off in the morning , they signed a disclaimer negating the quack from any blame if any problems occured.
She was cremated last thursday , they slipped, cut a blood vessel they shouldn't have and she bleed out into her lungs!!
Don't hestate to get a second opinion, there are alot of fools working under this system

RIP Margret

^^^
As underoath said, they still have to prove they were not negligent for their waver to stand up, dont they??

The old 'I slipped with the scalpel' excuse is so lame. What was the surgeon doing? Surgery on roller blades?

This whole business of hospitals scares the fark out of me!...
I don't want compassion from the doctor that's the nurses job, I want drugs.
So many that I won't even know my name or any mistakes they make, but that's not how it works.
I'm practising my profomance for when I have to beg for pain relief, gee I hope I die young!!!
Not to see it coming is all I beg of this universe, a quick unseen ending!
"Lookout for that bus Des" what? Bang........

Underoath said..



The presence of a disclaimer in a legally binding agreement does not necessarily guarantee that the terms of the disclaimer will be recognized and enforced in a legal dispute.

There may be other legal considerations that render a disclaimer void either in whole or part.

It's really a matter of informed consent which is intended to bring to ones attention any potential risks associated with a procedure both during a surgical procedure and post operatively & it certainly does not excuse neglect. Leaving gauze in following a procedure is inexcusable and certainly neglect/malpractice. The Dr. wouldn't have leg to stand on in court no matter what the patient had signed.

rburtyy said..
THEY ARE TIRED from working ridiculously long hours.

THIS I don't understand... if you drive a truck you are only allowed to work a set number of hours, same with any mining related job, fatigue management is a huge thing.

But working double shifts where you're directly responsible for peoples lives... no big deal.

I really don't understand it.

Jared888 said..


^^^^^^
doctor wouldn't have leg to stand on in court no matter what the patient had signed.





Well that's what I am thinking, Might take it up with one of those lawyers that don't charge unless they win deal, would be happy to give them their high fee if they could get anything in regards to compensation.

be careful with no-win no-fee deals. if you lose it means you don't pay your solicitor's fee for legal advice. but you still have to pay costs for the other party, barrister's fees, filing fee, expert's report fees, medical report fees, administrative costs, clerical costs etc. make sure they are up front about what you will have to pay.

We're all paying through the nose for their insurance premiums. It's all added to the fees they charge. When there is a genuine stuff up, you are well and truly entitled to get your compensation. After all you have paid for it, not them.

Mark _australia said...
Hmmm I have found quite the opposite.

I found when I had surgery recently in the public system and not by choice (if it was planned, I'd have been using private for sure) that the staff were awesome. Really really good, caring committed people, despite the very obvious lack of resources.
Everything was done to the n-th degree and they really cared.

Having just returned home from hospital I have to agree with you, everything was really efficient. From diagnosis to surgery took 6 days, and along the way all the doctors and nurses were extremely caring and empathetic. I'm now not sure that private cover is worth it if the public system is so good.

I experienced the same 6 yr ago with a ac joint dislocation, short sharp answers, told
things that would be done & some wer'nt. told physio was a waste of time & in the end it
re dislocated & it was my falt cause i dont heal good. no health insurence.
22nd dec i broke my knee cap in half, surgury 8.30am 23 dec home 24th. dr had time for
all questions while in pre opp, everything i wonted was provided. app with surgen every 2
weeks for 10 wks after, physio 2 times a wk & i am ahead of were i should be. private health
insurence.
Either way u get fixed just depends if you wont the best or if the rest will do.

nebbian said..

Mark _australia said...
Hmmm I have found quite the opposite.

I found when I had surgery recently in the public system and not by choice (if it was planned, I'd have been using private for sure) that the staff were awesome. Really really good, caring committed people, despite the very obvious lack of resources.
Everything was done to the n-th degree and they really cared.

Having just returned home from hospital I have to agree with you, everything was really efficient. From diagnosis to surgery took 6 days, and along the way all the doctors and nurses were extremely caring and empathetic. I'm now not sure that private cover is worth it if the public system is so good.

If you are in there for something very serious and complicated you'll be in the public hospital because the private sector does not have the capability for that stuff, its very expensive, requires scale and lots of support but its not profitable.

LittleOnion said..

On the points about no win/no pay lawyers, the other major issue is if u decide to stop the legal process before the finish (and a serious medical case could take 2-3yrs) the no win/no pay lawyer will charge all to you for not giving them opportunity to 'win'. My friend just saw one and had 2 brief meetings then decided to stop. Got billed $3500 as they claim they had already started investigating etc. Now pressure is on as she doesn't have money but knows if she wins they will claim majority of winnings, maybe not worth for all stress.
Care if not prepared to go all the way, you could also then get sued from other party for costs as there was no trial for them to defend after u initiated

tell your friend to take it to the legal services commissioner to get the bill assessed. it's free and the bill will be reduced or waived if found to be excessive or unreasonable. if the arrangement wasn't made clear before she agreed to it then there is a good chance she will not have to pay.

as to your other point about them claiming the majority- if it's a personal injury claim and she wins, the solicitor is not allowed to take more than half of what ends up in her pocket after the settlement

(this is for qld- i'm pretty sure it is very similar in vic)