Are doctors accountable??

[ironwill]

So all the attention they are giving to Michael Jacksons death is quite incredible...I say good for them, I believe that docs should be more accountable for their actions....But it should be scrutinized for General poulation also, as much as MJs case...
Overprescribing, wrong prescriptions causing more harm than good, and not even caring enough to check and see the effects they are creating for the patient...You see it over and over and nothing is said or done for the MOST part....
What do you think??

[RagingRandy]

In todays medical system most doctors have been relegated to pill pushers. People abuse themselves through lousy lifestyle choices and then expect doctors to bail them out with a medicinal cocktail. Yes, doctors need to be more accountable and also be willing to listen to patients and their opinions. But ,in the end people can do a lot to control their own medical destiny through lifestyle.

[macka]

In todays medical system most doctors have been relegated to pill pushers. People abuse themselves through lousy lifestyle choices and then expect doctors to bail them out with a medicinal cocktail. Yes, doctors need to be more accountable and also be willing to listen to patients and their opinions. But ,in the end people can do a lot to control their own medical destiny through lifestyle.

I'd agree in most cases. The question I have is, how can doctors miss the obvious? The doctor who first looked at my neck in 05 said there was nothing wrong. 2 days later he cut a healthy foot off of a patient instead of the gangrenous one. The college of physicians and surgeons told me that my complaint had no grounds with a disciplinary action, and I'd have to litigate civilly for the pain and suffering.

[ironwill]

I see guys at work with stomach ulcers etc and then drs just give them more pharmaceuticals to alleviate that problem and causes more issues than they resolve, It gets me frustrated...
I was sick for 10-12 weeks last yr, it was the worst experience of my life, literally dealing with docs, and the system , wondering if you will live or die, no exaggeration, and basically left to try and resolve my own issues, i had to ask for tests etc....Crazy...IMO

[moneypit]

I see guys at work with stomach ulcers etc and then drs just give them more pharmaceuticals to alleviate that problem and causes more issues than they resolve, It gets me frustrated...
I was sick for 10-12 weeks last yr, it was the worst experience of my life, literally dealing with docs, and the system , wondering if you will live or die, no exaggeration, and basically left to try and resolve my own issues, i had to ask for tests etc....Crazy...IMO

I agree Dr's need to be held responisble for their actions, but in the above case I'm sure the Dr's are telling them they need to change their lifestyle, drinking eating etc, because that is what causes ulcers but most people would rather mask the symptoms and continue their regular lifetstyle then change it and when the patient ignores the Dr what are they left to do leave them in pain or give them pharmaceuticals to alleviate it, I think the responsibilty falls on both the patient and the Dr, and I agree with you that the system can be frustrating, another problem I think we have in our medical system is alot of Dr's are getting burned out due to shortage and abuse in the system so because of that people who need the time and care may not be getting it,

[ironwill]

I agree Dr's need to be held responisble for their actions, but in the above case I'm sure the Dr's are telling them they need to change their lifestyle, drinking eating etc, because that is what causes ulcers but most people would rather mask the symptoms and continue their regular lifetstyle then change it and when the patient ignores the Dr what are they left to do leave them in pain or give them pharmaceuticals to alleviate it, I think the responsibilty falls on both the patient and the Dr, and I agree with you that the system can be frustrating, another problem I think we have in our medical system is alot of Dr's are getting burned out due to shortage and abuse in the system so because of that people who need the time and care may not be getting it,
sorry, i should have been more clear, they got ulcers after taking the wrong meds at to high of a dose and then recvd an ulcer as a gift...

[moneypit]

sorry, i should have been more clear, they got ulcers after taking the wrong meds at to high of a dose and then recvd an ulcer as a gift...

well thats different then, Its tought to say where to draw the lines with Dr's on responsibility because if there is no malicious intent and they are acting in good faith what kind of reprocussions do we put on them then, and being that everybodys body is different and reacts differently treating people with medicine will never be an exact science, tough question.

Another problem is where alot of our Dr's are coming from and where they are getting trained, India Afghanistan etc.

[cog]

Sometimes our medical system is a WalMart version.My wife has been ill for 13 years now with liver problems.The period before she was properly diagnosed,the doc was negligent in my view(he was a foreign doc).Docs stick together.Our neighbor is a retired operating room nurse,stuff happens and people cover each other's butts.I won't say any more than that.In some ways the American system keeps the docs on their toes,IMO.