Posted by: Tony Copperfield
30 March 2015You’ll probably remember the old adage from your medical school days: ‘In medicine there’s no such word as “never”’.
So when Professor Clare Gerada piped up, ‘Never blame the patient!’, during a debate at last week’s Pulse Live event in London she couldn’t have been surprised by the audience’s reaction.
We’re never supposed to blame patients for turning up inappropriately, because they’ve either been sent to the surgery by NHS 111 or pressured into attending as an emergency with their patch of scalp ringworm by family and friends.
We’re never supposed to blame patients for being rude and obnoxious to our reception staff, we’re never supposed to blame them for demanding unnecessary antibiotics or investigations.
We’re never supposed to blame patients for getting shirty when we advise them that three months off work after a routine bunionectomy is quite enough, thank you and it’s time to get back onto the shop floor.
We’re never supposed to blame patients for writing complaint letters IN CAPITAL LETTERS when we assert that we can say, with some authority, that there is no such thing as total body candidiasis, that homeopathy is a crock of shit and that failed hairdressers, beauticians and nail technicians who decide to pass themselves off as “nutritionists” are not qualified to give medical advice.
I’m told that around this time of year people give stuff up. Chocolate, alcohol, self abuse - in the main, things that they really enjoy.
Not being a religious type I’ve never joined in with Lent before, but in the interest of team spirit, this year I’m up for it.
However, I’ve chosen to break with tradition and forego something I don’t like. I gave up bullshit for Lent. I invite you to do the same.
Dr Tony Copperfield is a GP in Essex. You can follow him on Twitter @DocCopperfield.
Readers' comments (5)
Richard Ansell30 Mar 2015 2:15pm
The trouble is that if everyone gave up bullshit then there would be no election campaign and we'd be deprived of that gruesome entertainment of politicians trying to avoid stepping in their own bullshit.
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Verite Reily Collins31 Mar 2015 11:33am
Love it - well said.
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Mystery Locum31 Mar 2015 5:20pm
to the point as always!
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Anonymous31 Mar 2015 8:44pm
What gets me is that were are expected to explain how we make a diagnosis to people that cant even spell their names. The same people that have the right to judge us and complain against us. Joint decision this..joint decision that... how about you either trust and respect your doctor or see another one, simples. Oh, and NOBODY IS A SAINT CLAIR!
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Anonymous31 Mar 2015 10:32pm
amazing! Thank you for having the balls to say it!
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