Steam Rolled
Mar. 14th, 2006 06:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
locus_ofcontroI wonder why it is that Doctors truly believe they do not need to give sufficient information to allow for informed consent.
I have a real hate on for most doctors these days cause I'm sick to death of their tendency to act "holier than thou" and disrespect their patients wishes and rights.
My recent foray into this is with my daughter's pediatrician. I love the clinic and am thrilled that she has a doctor I can count on...however, I have a tendency to get steam-rolled when I am there. Today was a perfect example. We went in for the follow up look to ensure that the anti-biotics did their job. Should have been a quick look at her throat and we're out of there... Instead, it was a look and a "she hasn't had the Prevnar yet, let's get that done while you're here". I asked for literature (and got given a pamplet produced by the pharmaceutical company...) I hate that pharmaceutical companies fund research!! So, Katina gets these 2 shots (which are supposed to vaccinate her against mennigitus and pnuemenoccial ear infections and such) before I can even say "WAIT A MINUTE". I'm informed that they are even doing these shots in schools now.
Me, being ME.. .The first thing I do is GOOGLE...Prevnar... and what do I find?
basically...what I was afraid of.
Now to be fair...there's lots of favourable information out there...and this review is from 2001...but COME ON. If a long term study of even 5 years hasn't been completed....GEESH...
And the icing on this "disrespect" cake..... The vaccine is not to be given to anyone with a latex allergy.... I HAVE A LATEX ALLERGY. Which means - my daughter sharing my genetic material and all - could have one too. I should have been informed of that piece of information before I consented?? to allowing them to give her this needle. I would have chosen to DEFER this vaccine until she is older because I am trying to delay her exposure to things I know I am allergic too..including shellfish (my mom is allergic) and latex.
I hate the holier than thou attitude and disregard for the fact that I have a functioning BRAIN every time I walk into a doctor's office. I have an expectation of information being passed to me that allows me to make informed choices about MY and MY CHILD's health care....
ok..rant off...
If anyone knows much about this drug... please chime in!!
I have a real hate on for most doctors these days cause I'm sick to death of their tendency to act "holier than thou" and disrespect their patients wishes and rights.
My recent foray into this is with my daughter's pediatrician. I love the clinic and am thrilled that she has a doctor I can count on...however, I have a tendency to get steam-rolled when I am there. Today was a perfect example. We went in for the follow up look to ensure that the anti-biotics did their job. Should have been a quick look at her throat and we're out of there... Instead, it was a look and a "she hasn't had the Prevnar yet, let's get that done while you're here". I asked for literature (and got given a pamplet produced by the pharmaceutical company...) I hate that pharmaceutical companies fund research!! So, Katina gets these 2 shots (which are supposed to vaccinate her against mennigitus and pnuemenoccial ear infections and such) before I can even say "WAIT A MINUTE". I'm informed that they are even doing these shots in schools now.
Me, being ME.. .The first thing I do is GOOGLE...Prevnar... and what do I find?
basically...what I was afraid of.
Now to be fair...there's lots of favourable information out there...and this review is from 2001...but COME ON. If a long term study of even 5 years hasn't been completed....GEESH...
And the icing on this "disrespect" cake..... The vaccine is not to be given to anyone with a latex allergy.... I HAVE A LATEX ALLERGY. Which means - my daughter sharing my genetic material and all - could have one too. I should have been informed of that piece of information before I consented?? to allowing them to give her this needle. I would have chosen to DEFER this vaccine until she is older because I am trying to delay her exposure to things I know I am allergic too..including shellfish (my mom is allergic) and latex.
I hate the holier than thou attitude and disregard for the fact that I have a functioning BRAIN every time I walk into a doctor's office. I have an expectation of information being passed to me that allows me to make informed choices about MY and MY CHILD's health care....
ok..rant off...
If anyone knows much about this drug... please chime in!!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-14 03:45 pm (UTC)I'm not saying that it isn't the case here, but often times, Doctors just assume that any concerns will be stated, clearly and forcefully - i.e. that you'd have physically stopped the shot from being administered. If you asked for information without clearly stating that you would not allow the shot to be given until you were educated on it, then it probably flew right over their head as they 'followed normal procedure'. I'm NOT saying it's right, I'm just sayin..it's sad, but true, that most parents don't know enough or care enough to be an active particpant in their child's medical treatment. I'm not suggesting that laypeople know better than the docs, but you do have the right to discuss options before consenting to a treatment.
As for concerns over Katina's allergies? Have them list, under the allergy section, latex and shellfish. Explain that you're erring on the side of caution here, given your own medical history. This is what the Food_Geek does; his family has a history of penicillin allergy, so he lists penicillin as an allergy, which prevents them from administering the drug, and then explains the reality to the docs verbally. That way, if penicillin really is the *only* drug that will do the trick, he can make a fully informed consent, and the doctors know to be on the lookout for complications.