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Being Mortal


An eye-opening and riveting look at how how medicine can not only improve life ...
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As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

Created: 09/01/17

Replies: 10

Posted Sep. 01, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Gloria

Join Date: 03/11/15

Posts: 120

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

If I faced a serious illness I would want the truth and all the details of treatment. But I would also expect my doctor to take "ME" into consideration. In other words, can we tailor this treatment to who I am and what I need, not just work with statistics and outcomes. Anyone who ever had a cancer diagnosis might understand what I mean.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
renem

Join Date: 12/01/16

Posts: 292

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

I began to see doctors as complicated individuals who have the power to help us or to hurt us. What I want from any doctor is the truth and facts as they understand it and the ability to listen to what I understand those truths and facts to be. Then I want to know what they would do if it were themselves or their family members that had to make the same decisions. Finally, I would want guidance based on my priorities, not theirs.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
alycet

Join Date: 04/23/12

Posts: 182

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

I want truth with guidance.


Posted Sep. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

Doctors have become salesmen for the specialty they represent. They want to prescribe hope, even when their is none. Unfortunately, the family wants hope and buy into that premise. I now want a truthful doctor who tells it as it is. I want to deal with reality, not false promises. I want the truthful facts.


Posted Sep. 13, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

One thing I realized from reading the book is that doctor's are trained to make things better. As a computer/network tech, I really understand the mindset. The job is to repair, to fix, to improve. That works somewhat OK with machines, but not so well with people. I think the failing is in the teaching.


Posted Sep. 13, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
josephinej

Join Date: 05/11/15

Posts: 95

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

Having a doctor in the family, I've been aware of doctor's limitations for some time! I would trust a doctor who was aware of his/her limitations much more than a doctor who thought he/she had the answers to everything. I agree with Gloria - I want a doctor who will take ME into account, one who sees patients as individuals, not just parts or illnesses. (Of course, I want that NOW as well.)


Posted Sep. 17, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ylhoff

Join Date: 10/23/12

Posts: 85

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

They should know that medicine alone does not work. Doctors, using empathy and compassion, are the first line of defense when it comes to "do no harm." For the medical community to recognize that they should be in a fight for quality of life and change their approach from treating the "thing" to treating the "person sitting right in front of them.


Posted Sep. 17, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

I want a doctor who will tell me the truth and will take the time with me to make sure I understand my options, it there are any.


Posted Sep. 19, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
swchis39

Join Date: 09/26/12

Posts: 172

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

As a health care provider I still think most physicians are in a prescribed treatment mode and have difficulty addressing the end of life issues


Posted Nov. 07, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scottishrose

Join Date: 07/24/11

Posts: 220

RE: As Dr. Gawande learns the limitations of being Dr. Informative, how did your perception of doctors and what you want from them change? What would you want from your doctor if you faced a serious illness?

I don't think what I want from a doctor changed at all. I have always been one to seek out doctors that treat me like a person and not a disease. Even with my high blood pressure, we discuss things and then I choose what medications I'm willing to take or what life changes I'm willing to make.


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