Two stories about medicine that trouble me.

[Lobodeb]

Well said!

My reason for quoting the other thread was to point out that even in lightheartedness (if that was the intention), sexism was thrown out there.

I, personally think no less of Richard for his opinions on this thread. They're very strong, but that's ok in my mind because he's standing up for what he believes in. It's natural to come off as defensive when you feel you're being attacked. I love to read Richard's threads. He never fails to amuse me. I think he is a very brilliant and witty man.

As I said earlier, I was a little put off by some of his comments, but that's why this thread is in the dog house, right?

I don't think I passed any judgements, and if I did, I apologize. That wasn't my intention.

[RICHARD]

Thanks.
No need to apologize.

When people agree they say, "Don't back down, stand for what you believe in."

When they disagree it's "Shut up and sit down!'

People who work with dependent children/spouses/others are a special breed.

It's a tough thankless job-I have had peripheral experience in it.

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Having kids is a real job. Caring for them in every case is harder yet.

To me, there is no love greater than the care of a loved one. Cleaning up after them, caring for them before, is part of that love. It's harder to care for someone you do not know.

I have to say that after you finish cleaning a person, there is no greater feeling of accomplishment.
You have made a person more comfortable and kept them clean.

A little “poop and pee patrol” never hurts. But it’s startling to think that so many people find such disgust in caring for someone that cannot fend for them selves. We showed up on the earth and had someone do it for us, why not return the favor?

As a society we tend to take the easy route when we are confronted with a problem. The days when we’d “suck it up” are going, now we rely on a pill, surgery or technology to take care of or ills, all in the name of convenience.

When the chips are down and our true mettle is challenged, just toss in the cards and wait for the next hand.

Science will come to our rescue.

That’s far better than duty and love.

-----------------------------------------


P.S. I never went to kindergarten and I’m a tad over six foot, which makes soap boxes unnecessary and makes viewing parades, from the back row, a cinch!

[finn's mom]

It seems to me that this decision has made the child's life easier as well as making the parents ability to care for her within their reach. I don't imagine they'd be able to do it later on in life if she were to reach full adult size and weight. This situation is sad and I pray that I'm never able to fully understand what it's like to face that kind of choice. That's all I'm going to say about it.

[Twisterdog]

Lobodeb, thank you for that honest and informed post. It was brave of you to post that insightful look into your family's private world.

[Lobodeb]

Lobodeb, thank you for that honest and informed post. It was brave of you to post that insightful look into your family's private world.

Thank YOU for recognizing that and you're welcome. I don't speak of my brother often because I'm not always sure of the reaction I'll get. I learned the very hard way that people are cruel. I can't tell you the number of fights I got into as a child defending him because someone thought it was funny to make fun of him. I'm not ashamed of him in the slightest. It's more of a way to protect myself and protect him as a human being.

[Pam]

I really wasn't going to come back to this thread because it is one where I didn't see a side where I could throw my support 100%. I did just now read Lobodeb's post and I agree with Twisterdog's post below:

Lobodeb, thank you for that honest and informed post. It was brave of you to post that insightful look into your family's private world.

God bless you Lobodeb and your family as well. No one knows the heartache of turning loved ones over to someone else's care. My mom was faced with that situation with my dad after caring for him after his stroke for many years. We all knew that if she continued on that way we would be burying both of them. We were supportive of whatever she wanted to do. I don't think, until I am in someone's situation, I have the right to judge.

I will say, though, that I do enjoy Richard's posts. He is an intelligent man with a good sense of humor. Sometimes he has injected that humor into threads that were about to boil over and that has been a good thing. Let's all just say that debate is good and that is what this is. Richard please do not feel that you are being ganged up on. Your opinions are respected because they are your own based on your own personal life situations and you have a right to express them here and anywhere as do we all. End of sermon.

[Edwina's Secretary]

.


As a society we tend to take the easy route when we are confronted with a problem. The days when we’d “suck it up” are going, now we rely on a pill, surgery or technology to take care of or ills, all in the name of convenience.

Why is that wrong?

If there is a pill or a surgery or technology that makes life better/easier/less painful....is it better to suffer..to suck it up....to take the tougher route?

Still doesn't make sense to me....unless you are into some kind of alternative lifestyle that values pain and suffering.....

(and you are welcome....I have left you all sorts of alternatives to make jokes instead of answering the questions...)

[RICHARD]

Why is that wrong?

If there is a pill or a surgery or technology that makes life better/easier/less painful....is it better to suffer..to suck it up....to take the tougher route?

Still doesn't make sense to me....unless you are into some kind of alternative lifestyle that values pain and suffering.....

(and you are welcome....I have left you all sorts of alternatives to make jokes instead of answering the questions...)

I guess I like the humility of man.

What is pain and suffering?

I guess it's not an option to rise above and conquer pain or suffering?

Or do we just take a knee and pray, instead of meeting a problem head on?

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About May of last year I coded a case where a resident surgeon cut the hepatic artery of a man that was in for a cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal). The guy bled out on the O.R. table.

Oops!

A very simple operation to make his life better?


The scapel can only change the physical.
We haven't invented anything to cure the soul.

If I am ever stuck in the theoretical foxhole and have to choose my buddy,
I want the person who has cleaned a rear end, wiped up puke or smiled and said to someone with gangrene on their foot, "everything will be O.K...."

I like liars with heart, They seem to stick around try to help.
The truth tellers run away to find help.

--------------------------------

I'd rather trust a countryman than a townman,
You can judge by his eyes, take a look if you can,
He'll smile through his guard,
Survival trains hard.
I'd rather trust a man who works with his hands,
He looks at you once, you know he understands,
Don't need any shield,
When you're out in the field.
-G

[Edwina's Secretary]

Okay...so you think pain and suffering is noble and romantic.

I think it is pain and suffering.

And I think parents who do what they can to save their child from pain and suffering are noble.

So next time you are in pain...please no aspirin, no medicine, no surgery...just your humility. Rise above your pain and suffering.

And let the child be in pain and suffer for they too can rise through humility and transcend the pain.

No thanks.

[TamanduaGirl]

About May of last year I coded a case where a resident surgeon cut the hepatic artery of a man that was in for a cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal). The guy bled out on the O.R. table.

Hardly an elective surgery my father would be dead if he hadn't had his out.

[RICHARD]

Hardly an elective surgery my father would be dead if he hadn't had his out.

There is a difference between elective and emergency GB surgery.

Some docs will wait for the "itis" to go away and do it as an elective.

[Lobodeb]

There is a difference between elective and emergency GB surgery.

Some docs will wait for the "itis" to go away and do it as an elective.

Or preventative! No one in my family is buried with a gall bladder. I was having pain in the area, but they couldn't find any stones. The doctor said, "well, given your family history, I should just take it out now and spare you the whole ordeal!"

I'm leaving now to go knock on some wood.