Posted by S Howard on November 19, 2000, at 0:34:49
In reply to Very frustrated + depressed/confused/Dr. Jansen, posted by Shirley on November 15, 2000, at 20:50:35
Okay this is how I relate to your story: I worked in an orthopedic office for many years. The older doctors were afraid to try anything new, which is sad. If two children of the same age came into the office at the same time with identical torus (buckle) fractures of the wrist, and one of them saw the "old" doctor and one of them saw the "new" doctor, the patient who saw the old doctor would leave our office in a heavy, ugly white plaster cast. The patient who saw the "new" doctor would leave in a lightweight fiberglass cast in various colors or patterns. If the child in plaster got his cast wet, he had to return to the office to have his cast cut off and a new one applied. If the child in fiberglass got his cast wet, he could dry it with a hairdryer.
Mind you, these two doctors work in the same office. The older doctor is used to plaster, plaster has worked for him since medical school, and he's not about to change now. Still this is unfair to the patient. The question is, how do you find a doctor, no matter what kind of doctor, who is willing to research and change along with medical advancement? How do you know your doctor is up-to-date? How do you know that you are getting the very best treatment available? I would be interested to know if Dr. Bob has ideas on the subject.
-Gracie
poster:S Howard
thread:48877
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001115/msgs/49051.html