Medical mistakes?

[CJ Swartz]

chiquitita, how is your grandmother doing now-- better, I hope.

It is frightening to think what would have happened if you and other relatives had not been there, and to see what ills a "medicine" can cause. When I listen to TV/radio ads for new meds offered for a variety of ills, so many of them have a list of "possible" side-effects that are FAR worse than the condition for which they would be prescribed! If it weren't for people demanding changes in the past, we wouldn't even be hearing those lists of side-effects.

David, Clare's recommendation is one of the points made by experts in that list I referred to above -- MARK which area is supposed to be operated on, (and, for insurance, mark which parts are NOT supposed to be messed with). Glad your surgeon had a good memory -- once he was reminded.

I believe that we have to realize that doctors/surgeons nowadays see many more patients than when I was a kid and the doctor knew my case history because he was my family doctor and CAME TO THE HOUSE when I was sick with simple childhood diseases. We have to take part in our own advocacy and be the supervisor for our own healthcare.

[chiquitita]

You really do have to be your own doctor, doing the research and picking the best treatment, and then find a doctor willing to go along with you. You have to know what symptoms to point out and ask a lot of questions - force the doctor to spend at least a few minutes with you. A good source of info about medication is www.rxlist.com

My grandmother is fine now, but after she was released from the hospital she slipped , for several months, into an alzheimers / dementia state so bad that she didn't know what year it was or what state she lived in, then one day, as quick as she went, she came back, and is fine now. She hardly remembers anything from last year though. I wish I could forget as easily.