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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cybercafe on May 9, 2005, at 6:34:29
Okay this is ridiculous. After 5+ years of researching psychiatry, functional neuroanatomy and psychoneuroendocrinology, every time I visit a doctor I end up teaching them. And then they bill the government and make quite a lot of money (Canadian system). But I can't bill the government myself because a) I'm not a practising physician (yet), and b) you can't (officially) treat yourself. The only reason I see doctors is a) have them write a script for parnate and b) pick up some free condoms.
I'm pretty idealistic, so it's rather painful to know what a doctor has gone through (the curriculum of the local 'prestigious' med school) and how little information they have retained.
Anyone ever given a doctor a presentation on some of the above topics, and then presented their secretary with an invoice? ;)
Posted by Bill LL on May 9, 2005, at 7:45:56
In reply to Can I bill my doctor?, posted by cybercafe on May 9, 2005, at 6:34:29
The worst part is if the doctor is unreceptive to the patient's input. But if your doctor is gracious about learning stuff that you tell him or her, then your are lucky.
Are you studying to be a doctor? If so, do you have a particular specialty in mind?
> Okay this is ridiculous. After 5+ years of researching psychiatry, functional neuroanatomy and psychoneuroendocrinology, every time I visit a doctor I end up teaching them. And then they bill the government and make quite a lot of money (Canadian system). But I can't bill the government myself because a) I'm not a practising physician (yet), and b) you can't (officially) treat yourself. The only reason I see doctors is a) have them write a script for parnate and b) pick up some free condoms.
>
> I'm pretty idealistic, so it's rather painful to know what a doctor has gone through (the curriculum of the local 'prestigious' med school) and how little information they have retained.
>
> Anyone ever given a doctor a presentation on some of the above topics, and then presented their secretary with an invoice? ;)
Posted by cubbybear on May 9, 2005, at 9:40:50
In reply to Can I bill my doctor?, posted by cybercafe on May 9, 2005, at 6:34:29
>> Anyone ever given a doctor a presentation on some of the above topics, and then presented their secretary with an invoice? ;)
Great idea--how about submitting a statement for improper diagnoses, or mistakes in prescribing that result in emergency room visits (malpractice for sure), and just plain old sitting around the doctor's waiting room for hours, way past your appointment time. Time is money, y' know.
Posted by Racer on May 9, 2005, at 16:21:21
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor? » cybercafe, posted by cubbybear on May 9, 2005, at 9:40:50
I have actually done the "this wait was unacceptable" thing, and a couple of "my appointment was mis-scheduled" things. Each time, I got an apology and a write off for the costs involved in my appointment.
As for the part about educating doctors, I have done some of that, but mostly I'm too mousy to insist: I mentioned the Effexor/blood sugar studies that I'd seen to my psychiatrist, and he hadn't ever heard of them. On the other hand, he's so good overall that I don't really worry too much about it.
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2005, at 18:29:28
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor? » cybercafe, posted by Racer on May 9, 2005, at 16:21:21
That's a great idea about billing the pdoc for your time and the inconvenience of wrong med, not to mention the side effects and money. But, unfortunately to qualify as malpractice it must "cause lasting and permanent damage." Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 10, 2005, at 13:31:38
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor?, posted by Bill LL on May 9, 2005, at 7:45:56
I have found that the quality of care is positively correlated wtih the degree to which a doctor will work with me, i.e. listening to my ideas while presenting their own, as a true contractural relationship should be.
Posted by cybercafe on May 12, 2005, at 2:20:56
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor?, posted by Bill LL on May 9, 2005, at 7:45:56
> The worst part is if the doctor is unreceptive to the patient's input. But if your doctor is gracious about learning stuff that you tell him or her, then your are lucky.
I would not disagree. Unfortunately now that I am NOT depressed/anxious and more asssertive, I could probably get away with a lot more. Yeah it also helps if they see you as "one of them", interested in med school etc. But if you are too depressed to stick up for yourself (or even think clearly) things can be REALLY tough. Almost feel like I wasted years of my life. Though since I'm not depressed :) I instead feel like I learned psychiatry in a manner a regular med school student would soon forget.
I dunno.... I mean I came to realize that most GPs don't even know their jobs. So when (as a personal trainer) a client tells me a doctor did XXX, I will simply go to the American Association for XXXXX and realize they did only 1 of 10 tests! Then I'll ask some doctor friends, and they will also be .. ummm.. somewhat disappointed. Ah well...
The thing is, once you realize doctors aren't perfect, and in fact quite often make mistakes, then you can start to feel the urge to think for yourself and really learn and get things done.> Are you studying to be a doctor? If so, do you have a particular specialty in mind?
Endocrinology + Psychiatry. Sports medicine is also fascinating (and possibly less depressing) heh.
Honestly don't know. Still quite squimish. We'll see.
Posted by cybercafe on May 12, 2005, at 2:26:26
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor?, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2005, at 18:29:28
> That's a great idea about billing the pdoc for your time and the inconvenience of wrong med, not to mention the side effects and money. But, unfortunately to qualify as malpractice it must "cause lasting and permanent damage." Fondly, Phillipa
oh in canada there are many, many different reasons for a reprimand, malpractice being only one (and we probably have a different definition of that, too).
But hey... PROLONGING the treatment of depression has been shown to promote TREATMENT RESISTANCE and possible hippocampus damage etc etc (depression is linked to a higher risk of a variety of disorders).
Not to mention that not having worked for XXX years due to lack of treatment means you may not find work, and without money you are going to be effected emotionally, as well as physically (can't afford healthy food or a safe area to live in)... etc etc etc who knows. Maybe there is enough to have it settled out of court.
Posted by cybercafe on May 12, 2005, at 2:31:19
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor? » Bill LL, posted by Chairman_MAO on May 10, 2005, at 13:31:38
> I have found that the quality of care is positively correlated wtih the degree to which a doctor will work with me, i.e. listening to my ideas while presenting their own, as a true contractural relationship should be.
Actually I felt I was above most doctors. And I probably was. Then I found one who knew 1000 times as much as me. Like instead of being unable to answer my questions, he would answer them in such detail I would have to spend weeks researching to try and understand his answers. Stuff I've never even heard anyone on the net mentioning before, but *extremely* useful.
He was the one who suggested MAOIs and atypical antipsychotics to me -- things I was DEAD against, but because he was SOO much more intelligent that the average doc I just couldn't say no.
Haha... I still remember pharmacists seeing the MAOI + xxx combinations he had me on (or GPs) and sarcastically telling them that yeah... they're right. It IS impossible. In fact, I had 3 heart attacks and 2 strokes last week.
These are the same guys giving me food restrictions from 1960 :)
Posted by Jazzed on May 15, 2005, at 14:57:07
In reply to Re: Can I bill my doctor? » Bill LL, posted by Chairman_MAO on May 10, 2005, at 13:31:38
> I have found that the quality of care is positively correlated wtih the degree to which a doctor will work with me, i.e. listening to my ideas while presenting their own, as a true contractural relationship should be.
I have to agree with Bill LL and Chairman. If the doctor is good enough to allow you to educate him, feel lucky. There are SO many doctors out there who would not accept this, and would treat you with contempt. I've had both, I love the ones who are in partnership with me, and leave the ones who are too ignorant to know that if there's something going on with ME, then I am most likely to be the most educated about it, or at least TRY to educate myself about it.
Jazzed
This is the end of the thread.
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