do you think Doctors should practice what they preach?

Andy From Sligo

I dont know if the title is right - but there are an awful lot of fat GP, nurses and health workers about these days.

What if you went to GP with medical problems and she was on the obese side or was carrying quite a bit of weight and she lectured to you that "you need to loose some weight, your medical problems are mainly due to you being fat!"

Similarly - if a Doctor reeks of fags (thats cigarettes not gays lol) can they honestly preach to 'patients' that smoking is ruining the patients health?

Cee-Jay-Cee

When little fat arse Mary Harney was Minister for Health I constantly thought that she was the worst possible person to be in charge of Health when she couldn't even look after her own health.

diomed

They passed exams. They have the knowledge. Obey.

thattequilagirl

My local dentist has awful teeth which I find very off putting.

Not quite the same but you never really trust a hairdresser with bad hair or a nail technician with a dodgy manicure.

thattequilagirl

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

When little fat arse Mary Harney was Minister for Health I constantly thought that she was the worst possible person to be in charge of Health when she couldn't even look after her own health.

There are Ministries where an active interest in the topic (arts, sports, Gaeltacht) is important, but I'd say for health knowledge of creating and implementing public policy is more important than running regular 10ks.

luftmensch

Their job is pretty stressful to be fair.

The_Valeyard

They are paid to help you, not themselves. Live their own lives the way they want. Just give you the best advice on how to stay alive.

tomwaterford

thattequilagirl wrote: »

There are Ministries where an active interest in the topic (arts, sports, Gaeltacht) is important, but I'd say for health knowledge of creating and implementing public policy is more important than running regular 10ks.

Tbf we had Biffo as minister of health...it was like a private inside joke by the politians

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

My GP has advised me before how to sign up to get exclusive tickets when Mumford and sons come to play in Ireland. He's a wise man. I take his advice.

maudgonner

My local solicitor is being prosecuted for fraud. And I seem to remember there a few priests who preached about chastity but didn't practice it?

I have no problem with doctors giving advice that they don't necessarily follow themselves. We all have personal responsibility and should have control of our own lives, not rely on someone else to lead by example. Their duty is to give the information, that's enough.

armaghlad

I have relatives who are medical/dental professionals. I always found it funny that the dentist was/is a smoker and the doctor had/has a really bad sweet tooth.

jlm29

thattequilagirl wrote: »

My local dentist has awful teeth which I find very off putting.

Not quite the same but you never really trust a hairdresser with bad hair or a nail technician with a dodgy manicure.

Nah... i remember a riddle I was asked once... "If you live in a town with only two dentists, and one has good teeth, and one has awful teeth, which dentist do you go to!". You go to the one with the awful teeth, because the dentist who has the great teeth also goes to that guy.

Andy From Sligo

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

When little fat arse Mary Harney was Minister for Health I constantly thought that she was the worst possible person to be in charge of Health when she couldn't even look after her own health.

look at the state of the bloke that followed harney, whatshis face with the beard, rielly wasnt it - he bloody wasnt svelt looking either!

AnonoBoy

Well I've never been seen by a dead doctor so they're managing to do themselves what I want them to do for me.

Andy From Sligo

diomed wrote: »

They passed exams. They have the knowledge. Obey.

yep, very intelligent, highly paid public servants .... yet they cant look after their own general health!

Andy From Sligo

luftmensch wrote: »

Their job is pretty stressful to be fair.

diddums

Naw to be honest stressed out people normally loose lots of weight, its their metabolism .

their fatness is most probably due to sitting at doctors desks drinking cappuccinos in between seeing patients , oh and playing golf doesnt burn off much calories either

Vowel Movement

The shape of the Belgian Minister of health Maggie De Block :pac:

The Backwards Man

The best GP I know smokes 40 a day, he's not an oulfella either, he's the same age as me. Reckons if they kill him they kill him they kill him.

The same fella survived septicemic plague when he was in South Africa as a young doctor so I suppose he gets a pass.

Easca Peasca

Vowel Movement wrote: »

The shape of the Belgian Minister of health Maggie De Block :pac:

What a beautifully fitting name

Andy From Sligo

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

diddums

Naw to be honest stressed out people normally loose lots of weight, its their metabolism .

their fatness is most probably due to sitting at doctors desks drinking cappuccinos in between seeing patients , oh and playing golf doesnt burn off much calories either

Or they stress eat, or they're just humans with flaws like everyone else.

I don't think you'll find too many leisurely cappuccinos at doctors desks. You haven't a clue.

Andy From Sligo

Vowel Movement wrote: »

The shape of the Belgian Minister of health Maggie De Block :pac:

Feck!

DontThankMe

They wouldn't really being do their job if they didn't tell us to do what is best for our health.
As for them not taking their own advice i don't think it really matters they should be able to live their lives however they want.

Stheno

My partner and I go to a GP practice with several GPs.

One is the size of a small house (I estimate she is a size 22) but superb at her job and getting info out of you.

The other looks like she is permanently starving and is fierce stern.

The third is a locum, I tend to always end up seeing the locum as I can't stand the interrogation from GP one, or the stern manner of GP 2

If I've to go to a GP usually it's non serious, I know what's wrong, and just need a referral/prescription.

If it was anything worse I'd go with GP 1

Spanish Eyes

There was a slot on the radio today (can't remember what station) about those who live forever despite destroying their bodies with drink, drugs and fags.

Seems it is genetic or something.

Always said it, when your time is up, it's up. No amount of exercise or eating lettuce leaves will sort it out.

Andy From Sligo

tis is what prompted me to start up the post this article on the sky news website - istead of listening to wahat the news was about i was just distracted by the GP's fat arse wobbling! lol

http://news.sky.com/story/1690456/gps-in-crisis-over-growing-workload-study

luftmensch

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

diddums

Naw to be honest stressed out people normally loose lots of weight, its their metabolism .

their fatness is most probably due to sitting at doctors desks drinking cappuccinos in between seeing patients , oh and playing golf doesnt burn off much calories either

Given the hours accompanied with being on call, I imagine most people would find it tough to maintain a healthy lifestyle/diet. I'd be far more concerned with surgeons experiencing fatigue to be honest. A GP mostly offers advice, a prescription, or refers you to a specialist. A surgeon is performing a much more complex task.

Spanish Eyes

The gas thing is, when I (rarely thank god) go to GP I tell HIM what's wrong and he nods and writes a scrip or a referral.

Always does the Blood Pressure check which is off the scale because I have the White Coat Syndrome. Checked over 24 hours on a monitor to be sure of course!!

He's a great GP all the same, non judgmental and just gets on with it.

NEXT! lol.

Stheno

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

The gas thing is, when I (rarely thank god) go to GP I tell HIM what's wrong and he nods and writes a scrip or a referral.

Always does the Blood Pressure check which is off the scale because I have the White Coat Syndrome. Checked over 24 hours on a monitor to be sure of course!!

He's a great GP all the same, non judgmental and just gets on with it.

NEXT! lol.

My last visit to my GP

"I've hurt my finger, I googled it on nhs choices and have x injury, I treated it as they suggested, and need a referral to orthopedics to get an occupational therapy referral"

GP: "Ah so you have, ok here is the letter, do you need painkillers?"

Me: No.

Ok off you go so.

Fifty quid for feck all.

Now the HSE service was superb I have to say saw the surgeon a couple of weeks later publicly, got sent immediately to occupational therapy and all set for treatment.

That fifty quid was worth the entire service.

biko

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

I dont know if the title is right

Not really, a sentence starts with an upper case character, and doctors is not a name so should be all lower case.
Hope this helps xx

Spanish Eyes

Stheno wrote: »

My last visit to my GP

"I've hurt my finger, I googled it on nhs choices and have x injury, I treated it as they suggested, and need a referral to orthopedics to get an occupational therapy referral"

GP: "Ah so you have, ok here is the letter, do you need painkillers?"

Me: No.

Ok off you go so.

Fifty quid for feck all.

Now the HSE service was superb I have to say saw the surgeon a couple of weeks later publicly, got sent immediately to occupational therapy and all set for treatment.

That fifty quid was worth the entire service.

We are lucky it's only €50 really.

TBH GPs are great when you know them, because they know you aswell. They know you are not going to see them for nothing.

I have great time for my GP but he is getting on now, and I fekkin dread a younger man or woman in his place TBH. They will be giving out to me for everything!

Yikes.

my3cents

A friend who works in the Health industry has a saying...

You are only an alcoholic if you drink more than your Doctor.

Halloween Jack

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

I dont know if the title is right - but there are an awful lot of fat GP, nurses and health workers about these days.

What if you went to GP with medical problems and she was on the obese side or was carrying quite a bit of weight and she lectured to you that "you need to loose some weight, your medical problems are mainly due to you being fat!"

Similarly - if a Doctor reeks of fags (thats cigarettes not gays lol) can they honestly preach to 'patients' that smoking is ruining the patients health?

Next time you are Ill, go seek out the healthiest looking person you know and ask them how they do it, I'm sure that will cure you...

Stheno

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

We are lucky it's only €50 really.

TBH GPs are great when you know them, because they know you aswell. They know you are not going to see them for nothing.

Mine doesn't know me, they are locums, but if I want to see a regular I can.

I'm convinced they have notes on my record saying " logical IT person, do not waste time on platitudes "

learn_more

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

When little fat arse Mary Harney was Minister for Health I constantly thought that she was the worst possible person to be in charge of Health when she couldn't even look after her own health.

You are being still aren't you. Harney's job as Minister for Health wasn't to decide what pills should be taken for whichever complaint lol

As to the OP, your being silly also. The GP's job is to impart knowledge onto you to help you with your complaint. You asked for advise and you got it. I highly doubt the GP was preaching as I highly doubt he/she could care less if you follow the advice or not.

learn_more

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

When little fat arse Mary Harney was Minister for Health I constantly thought that she was the worst possible person to be in charge of Health when she couldn't even look after her own health.

You are being still aren't you. Harney's job as Minister for Health wasn't to decide what pills should be taken for whichever complaint lol

As to the OP, your being silly also. The GP's job is to impart knowledge onto you to help you with your complaint. You asked for advise and you got it. I highly doubt the GP was preaching as probably he/she couldn't care less if you follow the advice or not.

CFlat

my3cents wrote: »

A friend who works in the Health industry has a saying...

You are only an alcoholic if you drink more than your Doctor.

My doctor is Muslim so that's me f**ked. Mind you he is about 20 stone but he's an excellent doctor and I never considered his weight being an issue....until now ye bast**ds!!

Annasopra

I never understand why people should be slagged off and ridiculed so much over their appearance.

Cathy.C

My best friend's brother was a psychiatrist and he married a psychiatrist also.

One day, back around 2005, she told me that they had an argument about the amount of drugs they were doing and one felt that they should only take E twice a year and stick to cocaine as their main recreational drug. Well, I nearly fell off my kitchen stool. I just thought psychiatrists would be the last people you would expect to be taking drugs given what they must see on pretty much a daily basis.

Who'd have thunk it.

Andy From Sligo

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I never understand why people should be slagged off and ridiculed so much over their appearance.

cause its important, you go to your doctor, you want to see them fit and healthy so you say "if i follow their advice I will end up looking like them"

maudgonner

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

cause its important, you go to your doctor, you want to see them fit and healthy so you say "if i follow their advice I will end up looking like them"

Yeah, you're doing it wrong.

doireannod

I'm a doctor. I think we should practice what we preach in order for our advice to be taken seriously. I don't drink or smoke and I exercise about 3 or 4 times a week. I'm passionate about health. That's why I do what I do. I couldn't ask someone to give up smoking, cut down on alcohol or take up exercise if I wasn't doing these things myself. Sometimes I find it a sad when I see doctors with poor regard for their physical and mental health.

Thread seems to be an excuse to have a go at doctors and their appearance.

Doctors don't have to be Olympians to know that regular exercise is good for your health, they just have to be qualified doctors.

doireannod

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

cause its important, you go to your doctor, you want to see them fit and healthy so you say "if i follow their advice I will end up looking like them"

exactly!

Andy From Sligo

my normal GP (lady doctor) is skinny, even seen her out running a few times (as i sat in car lol) - hadnt seen her for 2 years , not even 5 minutes into consultation she asked me to strip me top off and said "your overweight, and have to do something about that" and booked me a dietician - a year later in june and still havent had a dietician appointment through....

Thing is I cant argue with her because she is thin and healthy and goes out jogging ... if she was a fat bitch and told me I had to lose weight I would just be laughing inside...

Stheno

Candie wrote: »

Thread seems to be an excuse to have a go at doctors and their appearance.

Doctors don't have to be Olympians to know that regular exercise is good for your health, they just have to be qualified doctors.

No that's true, but if you are looking at someone who appears to be a physical wreck lecturing you telling you to exercise etc it's hypocritical.

Call Me Jimmy

No, they're experts like anyone else. They have knowledge. We all know generally unhealthy activities yet still do them.

Andy From Sligo

Stheno wrote: »

No that's true, but if you are looking at someone who appears to be a physical wreck lecturing you telling you to exercise etc it's hypocritical.

exactly.

maudgonner

Stheno wrote: »

No that's true, but if you are looking at someone who appears to be a physical wreck lecturing you telling you to exercise etc it's hypocritical.

I've got enough maturity to know that people can give good advice but not necessarily follow it themselves. It wouldn't bother me a bit, and I'd be just as likely to take heed of them as if they looked like a marathon runner.

In fact knowing that they're human, with all the same failings and weaknesses as myself, makes it easier to take advice from people, rather than being intimidated by a 'superhuman'.

Icemancometh

Stheno wrote: »

No that's true, but if you are looking at someone who appears to be a physical wreck lecturing you telling you to exercise etc it's hypocritical.

I think this is the problem. There should be no lecturing or preaching involved. You want advice, you get it, what you do with it is your problem.

spurious

If I wanted advice on weight loss, I'd rather go to a lardy doc who might understand any difficulties I might face.

Likewise smoking, drinking too much, lady business, I would rather someone who knew exactly what it felt like.

I have no doubt any qualified doc would be as able to advise, but my preference would be one who had been through it personally.

Andy From Sligo

its all part of image isnt it and having trust - if you went to a mechanics and they drove around in a banger that was always breaking down you woud more than likely have faith taking your motor to another place to be repaired.

If you value your health and you really do want to make lifestyle changes its not gonna help you going to a doctor and getting advice from a doc who weighs 21 stone and smokes 40 cigs a day!!