in: PG; PG > 2008-08-25;
| # Posted 2008-08-26 07:21:43 | |
| unpronunciation: | yep, the term is 'informed consent' and double yep, that is completely megaunethical. As in, if someone had done that in a university study and someone complained to the IRB the whole thing could easily be shut down. But maybe someone just stuffed up the order they are supposed to do things in and didn't think very hard. |
| # Posted 2008-08-27 06:53:53 | |
| barb: | If you can bring yourself to do it, I'd write a letter about this to that doctor in the hopes that you would improve their practice. |
| # Posted 2008-08-27 08:28:34 | |
| PG: | I'll see, though the letter will have to be a little longer now (see today's post).... :-) |
| # Posted 2008-08-27 20:59:11 | |
| chitownclark: | ...in the hopes that you would improve their practice...
Not too likely I'm afraid barb. The doctors are caught in our broken health care system as much as we, their patients. If you have some common malady, you're thrown onto an established "production line" and move through the system, receiving procedures and medications and very little information...they've done it a million times already; why talk about it? Now that PG is searching for treatment, he's being given "sales pitches" that tend to emphasize the positives, and deempasize any negatives. And there are a lot more negatives to seed implantation than just the pubic arch limiting the field of implant. Urination, for one....seed implants notoriously cause urinary problems for guys, because that long tube called the urethra goes right through the middle of the prostate. And gets radiated along with the prostate...and closes down somewhat from the radiation damage (scar tissue). But I'll bet very little of that was discussed or evaluated during PG's visit with the radiologist. A urodynamic test for instance, to see how things are working right now. But seeding is still a tremendous technology. Read some of these 2007 papers on its ability to control advanced cases of prostate cancer. I think all of us, as we get older, need to become more familiar with our health, and the system we have in the US to care for it. We need to learn to become pro-active; demand answers to key questions; and try to cut through the sales pitch hype: 1. How many times have you performed this operation? 2. How many cases do you do weekly? Monthly? 3. How long does the operation typically take? 4. What is your positive margin rate? 5. Have your results been published? And as far as bedside manner is concerned, sometimes those docs with the worst bedside manner are the most accomplished. You've got to make sure your judgement criterion doesn't eliminate docs on the basis of their communication skills or the width of their smile. |
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