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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mark H. on March 10, 2000, at 20:21:34
Traditionally, the lower classes self-medicate with alcohol and illicit street drugs, while the upper classes (the rich) have turned to their physicians with the reasonable expectation that they will help them feel better, regardless of the cause of their suffering. For a long time, this left the vast middle class suffering without medication or support. This is finally changing.
The "war on drugs" has become a growth industry in this country, and physicians feel the pressure to be as conservative as possible in prescribing medications, especially controlled substances. The uninformed consumer winds up being the victim, with his or her pain and suffering undertreated and generally discounted as "psychological," as though that made it less debilitating or valid than say a broken leg.
In my opinion, those of us with mental illness and legal/technical competence have a responsibilty to fight for proper care for ourselves and all other individuals who suffer from these diseases. It starts by not putting up with patronizing, discounting bullshit from our own doctors. It means documenting injustices and irresponsible care and speaking up against prejudice and dismissal. It also means not burning those doctors with the integrity to support us in experimenting with medications that might help us to be more functional and productive.
There is so much brain-power and energy on this list, yet I am repeatedly astounded at the poor care and lack of concern from doctors that so many posters seem to think is normal and therefore acceptable. There are people on medication for WEEKS who are getting worse rather than better, accepting the myth that the drug is moving towards being "stabilized" in their systems, as though a bad match is suddenly going to turn around on its own. Most depression, for instance, will change course in four to six weeks WITHOUT medication, so why put up with ANYTHING that makes you feel worse??
We need a change in attitude. We're consumers, not victims, and it's a buyer's market. Support those good physicians who care and who help -- burn down the rest by networking, by getting the word out, by joining advocacy groups, by documenting harmful practices, and by knowing the law and your rights as a consumer.
Take charge of your wellness!
Posted by Chris A. on March 11, 2000, at 21:03:49
In reply to Importance of Not Being a Victim, posted by Mark H. on March 10, 2000, at 20:21:34
Welcome to the forum!
In my experience respect begets respect. My physician and I work as a team. Being a good clinical psychiatrist is hard work and you're guaranteed lots of criticism. It seems like we tend to expect a whole lot more out of them than we do ourselves.
BTW - Who decided to refer to patients with certain kinds of brain disorders as "consumers"? I'd much rather be referred to as a patient, as with every other illness. There are still lay people around who hint that I could "just snap out" of my bipolar. Referring to myself as a "consumer" is supposed to help all of that? Thanks for letting me vent. Am I the only one who feels this way? Don't get me wrong, I do not believe in being walked on, just good ongoing communication. Every once in a while I think it's a good exercise to put ourselves in our pDoc's shoes and consider where they're coming from. My care hasn't been perfect, but I have been fortunate to have good docs. Systems tend to be more of a problem.
Health to all,
Chris A.
Posted by bob on March 11, 2000, at 21:08:08
In reply to Importance of Not Being a Victim, posted by Mark H. on March 10, 2000, at 20:21:34
[looks like my first response got eaten by the crash monster]
I thought *I* could be an in-your-face activist, but you, Mark -- you got me beat. =^)
When I ran into some problems at my last job and challenged what was going on, my GP told me he was proud of me for not allowing them to vicitmize me. I had never seen it that way until he said that. Now, it's rather central to the face I present the world -- I refuse to let others turn me into a victim. It sure as hell ain't easy, but letting others turn you into a welcome mat is much worse, as far as I see it.
cheers,
bob
Posted by bob on March 11, 2000, at 21:27:25
In reply to Re: Importance of Not Being a Victim, posted by Chris A. on March 11, 2000, at 21:03:49
> BTW - Who decided to refer to patients with certain kinds of brain disorders as "consumers"? I'd much rather be referred to as a patient, as with every other illness.
In this case, it looks like Mark did ... and I agree with him.
It's another aspect of empowerment. If all you are is a "patient" with an "illness", then you need the services of the Health Care Industry. If, on the other hand, you are a consumer, you have two things the HCI wants to take away from you -- your choices and your money.
[by the HCI, I am not including our doctors. Sure, some of us have come across some who deserve inclusion in my blanket monster-making above, but by far the majority of the stories I read here talk about caring doctors who often are vicitmized by the system as much as we "patients" are.]
Taking on the role of a consumer, you need to realize that you have control of your resources, and you can exercise some choice over how they get allocated. As much as HMOs like to gripe and grouse about how much we psych patients are a drain on the system, they still make money off of us.
[If you have any doubts about what power we might wield, think of the one patient group that probably has a higher per person cost than us -- senior citizens. Sure, the resource issue (with things like Medicaid) are different ... but the AARP can sure kick some HMO ass when it wants ... and some Congressional ass as well: if a congressman fears anyone more than an NRA lobbiest or Tobacco lobbiest, it's the Gray Panthers and the AARP lobby]
I just think that Mark is trying to suggest that if we all got together and told, say, Oxford, or Blue Cross, or whoever, that we didn't like the way they were treating us and, come next open enrollment period, we're going to desert them en masse for another, any other, plan, we might find them more willing to tallk to us instead of lobby Congress.
my two cents,
bob
Posted by Chris A. on March 13, 2000, at 2:11:47
In reply to Psychiatric Consumerism, posted by bob on March 11, 2000, at 21:27:25
> I just think that Mark is trying to suggest that if we all got together and told, say, Oxford, or Blue Cross, or whoever, that we didn't like the way they were treating us and, come next open enrollment period, we're going to desert them en masse for another, any other, plan, we might find them more willing to talk to us instead of lobby Congress.Yes, you're both right - we need to come forth with dignity so insurers won't even think of relegating us to the bottom rung. My HMO has always had a very high patient satisfaction rating, but I'm afraid that might drop as a result of their continued bleeding of red ink.
Does anyone know what the status of ethics are in the insurance industry? Many healthcare professionals take ethics very seriously. Obviously some do not. The APA, AMA, AOA, AACC, etc. all have detailed codes of ethics their members are asked to agree to. They all center around serving the patient and putting their best interests first. In a conflict with an insurer perhaps it would help to remind them of these standards. Perhaps they wouldn't want to be blamed for causing a doc to break the oath they took at graduation.Chris A.
Posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 5:44:48
In reply to Psychiatric Consumerism, posted by bob on March 11, 2000, at 21:27:25
At the moment, it is the employers who pay the bulk of insurance premiums that actually have the power of the consumer. We should be the consumers in the sense that we have the choices to go in the health care market where we wish, but few of us have that choice. For most, we are given a choice of one or two health plans chosen by our employers, even though we are diverse and our health care needs are diverse.
I think y'all should check out the website of the organization, COALITION OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND CONSUMERS. Tellingly, their address is http://nomanagedcare.org/
Posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 6:28:50
In reply to Re: Psychiatric Consumerism, posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 5:44:48
Correction--it is the Coalition of MENTAL Health Care Professionals and Consumers.
BTW, one of the founders, a psychologist, says that she refuses to accept the label "provider" that is placed on professionals by managed care companies. She calls it a SLAVE NAME. She also says Managed Care is no such thing--it is really MANAGED COST.
This is the end of the thread.
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