A Rant on Our Medical Care in Ontario
Those of you who know me are aware of the fact that I have been dealing with some pretty severe health issues over the past little bit. Looking back, I can’t help but feel that a major cause of all my problems has to do with the poor care/attention I received from my family physician. Now don’t get me wrong, he’s a nice guy and I’m sure he tries but the man is just swamped with such a busy practice. Can’t help but feel like it’s an assembly line in his office. He has so little time to put towards careful investigation of his patients’ situations. Because of that, I think he took the easy way out in dealing with some of my earlier bladder infections. Cipro, Cipro, Cipro-take some Cipro. That was his answer. Unfortunately, the bugs in my bladder had built-up a resistance to Cipro and it wasn’t doing any good. End result-kidney infection & sepsis!
Now, another person very close to me may be paying the price of a somewhat inadequate health care system. Should have had tests done a long time ago but the doctor he was dealing with never had them done. I’m no doctor but even I knew from the symptoms this person was dealing with that some basic testing should have been done. It wasn’t. End result-cancer. Could have been treated such a long long time ago!
Are these shortcomings the fault of individual doctors? Likely not; I’m sure if they had the time/resources things would be done differently. Is it the fault of politicians? Easy to point a finger in their direction but I know they are working with limited funding options. All I know is, it really sucks. People are getting hurt!
Tony, unfortunately this type of occurrence is far too prevalent. One of my uncles had problems with his throat and by the time they diagnosed it as cancer, it was too late.
There are similar issues in the mental health system - people wait for months to see a specialist, then even longer for treatment, if they even get a proper diagnosis!
Comment by Janet Barclay — February 6, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
Unfortunately, Tony, this type of occurence is far too prevalent. I also know of situations where by the time the patient received a proper diagnosis, it was too late for them to be treated.
Comment by Janet Barclay — February 6, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Yes Janet, far too many people have suffered because of this. Far too many!
Comment by pinkquack — February 7, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
My family and I have also been dealing with this regarding the care my Dad has been getting lately from his family doctor or rather not getting. We actually figured it had to do with the low priority doctors give to seniors but I guess its just part of this larger problem. Unfortunately I don’t have any answers other than you have to be more aggressive in managing your care. Trouble with that is that many aren’t in the position to do that.
Comment by charles — February 8, 2009 @ 3:30 am
Couldn’t agree more. Like you I have no real answers. A sorry state indeed.
Comment by pinkquack — February 9, 2009 @ 7:08 pm