Re: gynecologic oncologists
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Wed Mar 31 11:06:11 1999
Bob,
are you suggesting that a gyn-oncologist would be less qualified to deal
with suspected ovarian carcinoma than a generalist?
Art
At Tue, 30 Mar 1999, Robert J. Woolley wrote:
>
>In message <4.1.19990330232830.009f8010@mail.enter.net> writes:
>> Bob:
>>
>> I don't think that's his (or her) position at all. It was just a quote. The
>> case could be made that with a significant risk for ovarian CA, a gyn onc
>> should at least be available. I don't disagree that the patient should be
>> given the option of a gyn onc for this type of surgery. In practice,
>> however, I find most women are happy to have them on standby. If I truly
>> believe it is an ovarian cs, I send right to the oncologist, because they
>> do a better job than I do
>
>Allow me to make my point more explicitly, then. I have particular interests in
>certain pieces of a general medical practice. In these particular areas (e.g.,
>specific diseases or procedures), I am likely to have both more interest and
>more knowledge than the average specialist (say, dermatologist). Suppose I take
>the view that patients always have the "right" (whatever that means) to be
>referred to a specialist. If the patient before me has one of the things in
>which I have special knowledge and interest, then the referral may well send him
>or her to a person less qualified. This does not seem in the patient's best
>interest. (Not to say that I *wouldn't* if pressed, just that it seems a shame
>to go from a more qualified physician to a less qualified one.)
>
>In order to maintain that a patient with ovarian Ca always has the right to
>choose a gyn onc (meaning, presumably, more "right" than any other patient has
>to choose any other physician), one would, it seems to me, have to believe that
>such a choice is always going to be in her best interest. (Unless you want to
>bestow a special right to lesser-quality care, and if you do, I'd like to know
>why.)
>
>--
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Bob Woolley
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>St. Paul, Minnesota
>
>"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles,
>with sniffles predominating."
>
> -- O. Henry
>
--
art fougner, md
SonoScan/Genetic Sciences
forest hills, ny
evsono@pipeline.com
