Healthcare providers in one of the FB groups I am in are bashing patients who self-diagnose. I’m trying to educate them on why patients do this, how it is valid, how to actually help, etc.. I’m also trying to communicate that it’s problematic to mock this behavior (all while fighting the urge to point out that they are doing so because they feel threatened or are insecure) and to dismiss the concerns being raised because of it, but I’m not sure it’s getting through. It’s hard enough to face this stuff as a patient but it’s often even harder to go up against what seems like an entire field of professionals who think of patients as lying, ignorant pieces of crap who don’t understand their own bodies and experiences. It’s so disheartening. Healthcare providers need to do better. We need to drop our own egos and forget our bigoted shitty training and treat our patients with respect while recognizing that they are the experts on their experiences, not us.
@DisabledDoctor My daughter had a bone infection & I knew it, but 2 doctors said no. I insisted on surgery. She got sepsis. 8 weeks of iv antibiotics at home & PT. Nobody wanted to listen to me.
@DisabledDoctor So there is no professional code of conduct? We as patients can feel the disrespect and distain from medical workers. Mocking customers would get you fired in most other jobs.
@DisabledDoctor I was once in a meeting of 2000ish healthcare professionals where the speaker made a bigoted statement against people w my disability & the audience didn’t just clap politely or whatever they *hooted and hollared* in approval. It is an experience being inside the sausage factory!
@DisabledDoctor I had THE WORST experience from Mayo and I'm so traumatized I can't call the patient advocate and retell it.
@DisabledDoctor Some good points here and doctors must realize that this pain patient anxiety & lack of trust is a real problem.
@DisabledDoctor Thanks so much for this validation. It means a lot to those who matter most i.e. the patients. Much appreciated!