Re: Would you do it again?
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Fri Aug 25 06:02:04 2000
pity the representatives of the medical specialties don't confront those
candidates running for office as well as current elected officials with
poignant letters such as yours. years back, acog made bill cosby an
honorary fellow for his role as dr. huxtable. had acog simply have
requested that dr. huxtable get sued in one of the episodes, showing
the effect this had on him and his family, along with his relationship
with his attorney wife, i truly believe that would have had a profoundly
positive effect on the horrendous med mal system in this country.
and so it goes.
art
At Fri, 25 Aug 2000, mark decker wrote:
>
>i'm the guy that had the state settle a med mal case out from under me
>because insurers and money win out over facts - so i got burned on
>accusations of poor cup placement that have no foundation in provable
>fact..the vacuum cup was computer perfect in fit but i don't get to take
>that ct scan absolute proof their side missed to court to blow their
>mainstay arguement to hell and back. i just got to be in the paper today
>in an 8 yr old delivery
>
>that said -
>
>i learned long ago to write all notes clinically to defend yourself but
>that is not good enough - you must also dictate for lawyers and juries now
>too i found in this case - clinically obvious notes don't get thoroughly
>read either by "experts" so you have to make them fool proof even when your
>tired.
>
>i have never sacrificed good medicine to protect myself - tempted to change
>that now but i would quit doing ob first -
>i have always sacrificed the transcriptionist with long notes to defend and
>document and that is tedious but an absolute dictum so you can sleep at
>night from a self preservation standpoint
>
>all that said - this has always been - in the last 12-16 yrs i have been in
>ob - a legal nightmare job - we're sued more than anyone - along with ortho
>and neuro
>
>but if you can live with that - it is a good mix of clinic and surgery and
>ob and there is a lot of bringing life into the world and not just tuning
>up the dying - i know i know - i almost went into medicine so i know there
>is more to it than that
>
>but it is a good mix - and personally i have always gotten along with women
>more than men - most of my friends in the hospital setting while i was in
>premed and med school were women of course - better conversationalist and
>far more open in discussing emotions and life - etc
>
>i enjoy the trust factor as a male caring for women - i appreciate that and
>respect that the most - it is very rewarding internally and personally - it
>is sacred to me... - that is what i enjoy the most - being trusted to care
>for somenone and in the unique setting of obgyn and female - male
>interactions and society's - "social" dynamics on gender interaction - it
>adds to my personal enjoyment and recognition of that trust my patients
>have in me caring for them as women. i can't tell you how much that helps
>me plug away - after all if they did not trust me i could not do my job -
>do what i enjoy so much
>
>i really care a lot for my patients -some make you mad as hell but i really
>care for 99% of them - address fears - support emotions - imperfections -
>humanity in us all -
>care for their concerns in infertilty - pain - libido - incontinence
>-depression - etc
>
>i really like to help - oh god do i like to help.
>
>that is very personally rewarding - self actualizing for me
>that is ... fun--enjoyable
>
>medicine has a lot of hassles to it and the journey is long and hard and i
>would never do it again - but is is one of several good occupations for me
>- i will continue with it and not be more tainted once my frustration with
>this med mal crap passes - for the most part but never totally -
>
>so do what you want -
>just understand no matter where you go in this business - profession - it
>is both
>and it has good points and some very ugly points to it -
>like life in general
>
>believe me - i get to be very introspective these days
>
>good luck
>
>mark
>
>At 01:25 AM 8/25/00 -0500, you wrote:
>>My name is Alexandra, and I'm a second year pre-med student. (Please
>>don't get upset with me for posting here--it DID say on the registration
>>that medical students could join. I'm getting there.) :) I find it
>>extrememly interesting to read about all the different cases and to
>>compare your professional feedback. The reason I'm writing is because I
>>was curious about some of your responses to this question. I saw that
>>many of you would not choose to be an OB/GYN in modern days if you could
>>once again choose your specialty. I am hoping to become an OB/GYN, and
>>I was just interested in your reasoning, if you have a moment. Thanks
>>so much!
>>Alexandra
>>
>Mark H Decker MD
>Ob-Gyn
>Mid West USA
>Multispecialty Clinic
--
art fougner, md
A series of 1000 cases begins with but a single anecdote.
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