Dear Kathy,
Amen to that. While there are great doctors and practictioners, there
are some who lack the spirituality of what a well rounded practitioner
should and must be. Again, I am a devotee and admirer of the medical
commmunity. I am just replying my thoughts to those who come here and
say that their doc gave them so long to live. I am appalled at that and
I know that those Doctors are not in the mainstream of reality today
because there is just so much in the way of treatments for all major
conditions. Just my view and I get so overly exhuberant in how I express
my anger when I hear these words said to a new survivor.
Take care and God Bless
marty
> kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
>
> Dear Marty: I'm glad to hear this. I agree -- there are many kind and
> gentle ways to present a worse case scenario -- like saying, "This
> probably won't happen." My general practicioner was (and is) that way
> -- always hopeful. His favorite, "You're going to be okay, honey.
> We'll do whatever it takes." Needless to say, I love the man, and
> would drive miles just to see him! I wish he was my oncologist, but
> he is the doctor who saved my life by insisting on all the tests until
> "they" found out what was wrong. He's a saint. Love, Kathy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
> [mailto:owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com]On Behalf Of Martin Auslander
> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 8:02 AM
> To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com; Kathy Corrigan
> Subject: Re: [MOL] thanks Kathy
>
> DEar Kathy,
>
> I can tell you now, that Doctors are not required to automatically
> predict statistics about life expectancy or make comment on life
> expectancy. Now, they may say "this is all I can do for you" implying
> that he/she is limited to the protocal of treatment that his/her
> facility can provide or maybe he is limited to experience, but the
> Doc,
> in my view, should never automatically tell someone how long he/she
> has
> to live. In addition there are very diplomatic ways of answering
> someones concern about life expectancy when asked of doctor and that
> doesnt have to be a prediction either. I have spoken to many great
> oncologists and they have varying views on how to say certain events
> or
> circumstances, but the vast majority do not automatically tell someone
> a
> life expectancy nor do they reply with a prediction of life expectancy
>
> when asked. There are many ways to diplomatically replying and
> generally
> it is all positive, even in a negative circumstance. They should and
> must not ever take away hope. In my opinion.
>
> God Bless
> marty
>
> > kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
> >
> > Dear Marty: Yours was an inspiring story, too, and I thank you. I
> > don't know why doctors give dire predictions out of their realm of
> > expertise, either. I know that sometimes doctors feel compelled to
> > give the worse case scenario, but I don't think they're required to
> do
> > that. I'm going to check into that. Our firm handles malpractice
> > cases from time to time, and I'd be interested. Thanks for
> > responding, Marty. I always love to hear from you. Love, Kathy
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
> > [mailto:owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com]On Behalf Of Martin
> Auslander
> > Sent: Sunday, February 07, 1999 9:51 PM
> > To: Medical On Line Forum; Kathy Corrigan
> > Subject: [MOL] thanks Kathy
> >
> > Dear Kathy,
> >
> > Thank you for this wonderful message. Pls excuse the delay as I took
>
> >
> > Barb, my wife, to Mexico to buy some medications and vitamins. then
>
> > we
> >
> > had an appointment at the immune therapy clinic that she is being
> >
> > treated by. Left on WEd night and back on Sat. So pls excuse the
> > delay.
> >
> > Just so you know. WE told the Onc up front when Barb was diagnosed,
>
> > we
> >
> > didnt want to know what he thought about life expectancy and his
> > remark
> >
> > back was very kiddingly to make it light, "so don't ask". As it
> turned
> >
> > out when Barb was hospitalized on numerous events for very
> traumatic
> >
> > circumstances, there were some doctors who were not Oncologists and
> > were
> >
> > seeing her for varying reasons, pulled me aside and told me that
> they
> >
> > did not expect her to come out of hospital alive. I told one Doctor
> > when
> >
> > he said that "then you don't know my wife and who the hell (pardom
> me)
> >
> > asked you? With all due respect just treat my wife for what you are
> >
> > qualified to treat her with and leave the predictions up to God,
> Barb
> >
> > and I". Well he was purturbed but was very respectful as he sees
> Barb
> >
> > from time to time 4 years later and smiles at us. Believe me he
> knows
> > he
> >
> > was wrong. I hope he learned a lesson to treat others with respect
> and
> >
> > not with wisdom that he is not qualified to provide. We encounted
> > other
> >
> > doctors as well with similar views who are not Oncologists. I cant
> >
> > understand why physicians go out of their realm of expertise to
> > predict
> >
> > life expectancy from a condition they know little of. In many cases
> I
> >
> > believe we know more than they about life and dedication and
> >
> > determination. Thanks for your encouragment Kathy. You are indeed an
>
> >
> > inspiration to all here, as you are to me.
> >
> > God Bless
> >
> > marty auslander
> >
> > > kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Dear Marty: I do agree with every word you said. My doctor
> didn't
> >
> > > want to give us a statistical prognosis -- Jerry asked her, and I
> >
> > > could tell she was reluctant to say anything. She just sort of
> >
> > > mumbled, "Oh, 25 to 40%." She never said 25 to 45% of what, and I
>
> >
> > > changed the subject immediately, and on we went. She was always
> > very
> >
> > > upbeat and optimistic when I went to see her, and would express
> her
> >
> > > joy and amazement at how well I was doing. She probably didn't
> have
> >
> > > the best bedside manner in the world, but she certainly didn't
> have
> >
> > > the worst. She didn't take away my hope, and what additional
> >
> > > encouragement and support I needed, I certainly got from her
> staff!
> >
> > > What a wonderful bunch of people. I researched my type of cancer
> on
> >
> > > the Internet, and I knew myself what I was up against, and the
> >
> > > prognoses I found there were absolutely horrible! But, I'd go
> back
> > to
> >
> > > see my friends at the center, and I didn't feel frightened or
> > hopeless
> >
> > > any longer. The place is always full of flowers and candy and
> other
> >
> > > goodies sent by their patients. One lady made silk floral
> >
> > > arrangements for the entire place -- and it's huge! Other
> patients
> >
> > > have sent pictures of themselves and their families and they're
> all
> >
> > > over the walls. The nurses know my voice on the phone and so does
>
> > the
> >
> > > pharmacist. They must all take classes on public relations,
> because
> >
> > > they do a bang-up job! I was luckier than some -- I know from
> being
> >
> > > on this forum. Some of the doctors out there behave outrageously.
>
> >
> > > Keep it up, Marty! Your fan, Kathy
> >
> > >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> >
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