A 78-year-old woman in a German hospital for leg surgery underwent an unnecessary operation on her anus instead. [Link]

There’s really no reason for something like that to happen, it’s fully preventable.

Back to the topic of the looming health care crisis, there are some things for which we as doctors definitely must take responsbility. I agree that the impact of a simple checklist is remarkable, and simple, and doesn’t take any additional time. But don’t think that some of the “mistakes” aren’t actually misconceptions and misunderstandings on the part of the general public. Take, for example, if I have a postop patient who normally takes a certain number of medications at home. In the acute postop setting, many are not that important to have taken, for example zocor, or even antihypertensives. Would I mind if the patient gets them? Not particularly, but I didn’t order them because they aren’t that important.

This, to hawkish family or patients, is seen as a “mistake.” Whereas in fact, it is more of a “misperception.” This is a very mundane example, but as many things that we are not doing that we should, rest assured that there are just as many if not more things we are being forced to do that we shouldn’t. Does anyone ever study the time or efficiency lost in that?

It is an unfortunate circumstance that you can spend an hour with a patient treating them for diabetes and hypertension and make $100, or you can do Botox and make $2,000 in the same time,” said Dr. Eric C. Parlette, 35, a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Mass., who chose his field because he wanted to perform procedures, like skin-cancer surgery and cosmetic treatments, while keeping regular hours and earning a rewarding salary. Medical school professors and administrators say such discrepancies are dissuading some top students at American medical schools from entering fields, like family medicine, that manage the most prevalent serious illnesses…

Jauhar is the name given to the act of mass suicide committed at the time of partition of India, isn’t it? “The women committed jauhar”.

Thought it an interesting point since there’s another topic of the same on here right now.

certainly food is way cheaper in the USA than in Europe or Australia. First time I went to the USA I was astounded that one had to get an appointment to see a specialist – Pure supply and demand mismatch.? If you want to look at a free market in healthcare – india comes pretty close although it does have government hospitals. A few govt hospitals are excellent while the rest are atrocious. As everywhere, the upper class get better healthcare although it is debatable if they are healthier than the lower middle class.

11 · razib said

s noted in the USA today article groups like the AMA have a vested interest in doctors not being too plentiful lest the premium on their skills be de-valued.

This is a losing battle. The AMA can restrict all they want but alternative professions and pathways are cropping up. Podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, clinical psychologists, naturopaths, nurses and physician assistants are slowly given more and more leeway to practice medicine that once only MD doctors had permission to practice. Osteopathic medicine is now considered as legitimate as traditional allopathic medicine and new DO schools are opening all over the place.

As a first year brown med student at an osteopathic school i’d like to point out that we receive an identical education to that of md schools and can practice in every speciality from neurosurgery to pediatrics as well as attending the exact same residencies. (just a clarification, we’re fighting the same battle as the mds against midlevels as we are both physicians one and the same).

As for good food on a budget there’s nothing like a bit of beans and rice esp. if it’s frijoles negros! Leave out the animal fat and bring on the vinegar.

Topically, at my local hospital I know for a fact that at orientation everyone is asked to wash their hands and afterwards shown -using a special light- just how dirty their hands still are…mostly around the fingernails. You think you’ve done enough to wash the things but no, apparently one needs to be vigorous and patient to get the hands clean.