We can now add Dr. Yamada to the disappointing doctors list. (Dr. K has begun to redeem herself and I believe she may be removed from the DD list soon. Dr. Gout remains a permanent fixture of the DD list, as does Dr. Ass*, my first orthopaedic oncologist.) I have now been waiting 16 days for Dr. Yamada to either review my scans and/or let me know about the skull mets he didn't treat. As you may recall, on the day of my follow-up visit I asked him about the status of the other skull mets and he said he didn't look at them. I asked him to do so and get back to me by the end of the week. That would have been January 30. Today is February 12, and despite two conversations with his nurse, no reply. Today I left a very terse and unfriendly voicemail and said I expect to hear back something by the end of the day.
Do these doctors not understand what patients go through? Do they not GET IT???? How long should a patient have to wait to find out if there is growth, stability or shrinkage in a tumor or tumors? Does it occur to them that this waiting may produce some anxiety? I get the "oh, he's been very busy," but does that mean my time is worthless? That my interest in knowing what's going on in my body is of less importance than his work? I guess paying tens of thousands of dollars to a doctor for his treatment doesn't mean you deserve responsiveness. It's so frustrating.
Ed says I'm too nice and too friendly, and I suppose when it comes to doctors, he's probably right. I want them to like me because I think they will treat me better. I guess this disproves that theory. In the future, it's a business transaction: I pay you, you treat me professionally, efficiently, and thoroughly. Otherwise, all bets are off.
Sorry for the rant but I'm really annoyed at the moment. Think I'll take a few minutes to breathe deeply.
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1 comment:
I am with you 100% on this. They are paid well, and should be communicative, as well as their staff. I can't stand when I get nasty or cranky ancilliary staff either. They are in the human service field, and should be pleasant, respectful, and patient. My daughter has been very lucky in her treatment as the doctors have treated her case emergently...oh, except for the 6 year wait to find someone who could finally diagnose her Lupus. The first doc we took her to was a quack and deserves to be sued.... feel better, patti
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