are doctors overrated?

smash · 29-08-2012 12:48PM

IrishZeus wrote: »

GP's need to be given some slack when it comes to certain diagnoses.

No they shouldn't. If they don't know, they should refer you immediately.

90% of the time they'll say "I think it's viral, can't prescribe anything, go and get some rest."

juan.kerr · 29-08-2012 12:49PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

You must be a doctor Juan. I never said they should work for free but the price I paid for the service I got was not in view acceptable. a doctor is providing a service yet I am not sure if there is an efficient system in place where patients can complain about a GP.

I'd love to be a doctor - well I'd love the pay anyway, not the responsibility.

Of course you can complain: http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Making-a-Complaint-/Making-a-Complaint1.html

juan.kerr · 29-08-2012 12:50PM

kerry4sam wrote: »

I hope you're feeling better now though Fuinseog

No thanks to the doctor, no doubt.

tommyboy2222 · 29-08-2012 12:50PM

Don't think doctors are overrated but I think sometimes they refer you to consultants too hastily.

I found some bumps on my chest so I went to the doctor. She checks them out and says "Ah there's nothing there but I'll refer you to a consultant".

I go to the consultant and he checks them out and tells me "You've nothing wrong with you and your doctor thinks so too".

I didn't mind paying the 60 euro for the doctor but I'm not so sure about the 150 for the consultant.

Are doctors just covering their arses ? Is it a cash making scheme ?

Am I being too harsh ?? :pac:

Fuinseog · 29-08-2012 12:50PM

sometimes the GP will gives opinions that are personal than professional.

not sure if it is still the case that you need to go to the GP for the pill, but I knew a girl who went to her GP for the pill and was he told her would not give it to her as she should not be having sex. this as a bout ten years ago and presumably he meant outside of marriage, but that is none of his business.

I was told by a doctor who smoked that my lifestyle was unhealthy.

Fuinseog · 29-08-2012 12:52PM

juan.kerr wrote: »

I'd love to be a doctor - well I'd love the pay anyway, not the responsibility.

Of course you can complain: http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Making-a-Complaint-/Making-a-Complaint1.html

and are those complaints dealt with within a week or two or a year or two?

IrishZeus · 29-08-2012 12:55PM

smash wrote: »

No they shouldn't. If they don't know, they should refer you immediately.

90% of the time they'll say "I think it's viral, can't prescribe anything, go and get some rest."

Read the rest of my post and you'll see the example I gave as the "right" thing to do involved being referred to a consultant.

In fact, my whole post was that should they not know what's wrong, then they need to refer you to a specialist.

Well done on missing the point there :rolleyes:

Fuinseog · 29-08-2012 12:55PM

IrishZeus wrote: »

Its important to remember that most docs you see are GP's i.e. General Practictioners. Therefore they are trained in general medicine and can often miss things that a specialist would pick up on.

Myself for example - had an eye issue over the past few weeks that dragged on and on. Went to two GP's and was told one thing. Second one prescribed meds - didn't work. Referred to a specialist in the Mater Eye Casualty. Doc there had problem diagnosed and fixed within days.

GP's need to be given some slack when it comes to certain diagnoses. You can't be a specialist in everything.

you are messing around with human lives here. if they are not 100% certain they should refer you to someone who does know.

Lollipops23 · 29-08-2012 12:56PM

I stay away from the doc as much as possible, but when I do go he's usually great (he's been the family doc for years).

However, I do take major umbridge with the price €55 for the Dr to take your blood pressure every 6months and tell you you're fine is just mental. (this is what you need to do to get the pill)

IrishZeus · 29-08-2012 12:57PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

you are messing around with human lives here. if they are not 100% certain they should refer you to someone who does know.

Read my post above - if they don't know then they should refer you to a specialist.

However most people think that a trip to a doctor should result in a miracle cure for whatever it is they present with. GP's are not infallible, they are not trained as specialists in everything. Therefore, they can not be expected to be able to treat everything that comes in front of them.

juan.kerr · 29-08-2012 12:57PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

and are those complaints dealt with within a week or two or a year or two?

I have no idea. Why not contact them and see what they say?

smash · 29-08-2012 12:58PM

IrishZeus wrote: »

Read the rest of my post and you'll see the example I gave as the "right" thing to do involved being referred to a consultant.

In fact, my whole post was that should they not know what's wrong, then they need to refer you to a specialist.

Well done on missing the point there :rolleyes:

I didn't miss the point. you had to go through 2 GP's and a lengthy process to get it resolved. How much did it cost you in total because they didn't know and didn't refer you in the first place?

Duggy747 · 29-08-2012 12:59PM

As a technician I imagine I could easily make the transition from hardware to humans.

Patient: "Doctor, I'm feeling very sluggish and slow lately, I'm roasting hot and my vision has been going blurry a lot."
Me: "Have you tried turning yourself off & on again? Maybe update your graphic driver for your vision. Are you still in warranty?"
Patient: "Wh...........what?"
Me: "As for the high temperature, you probably need a good clean out. Bend over there for a sec........"
Patient: "What the hell are you doing, what is that!?!"
Me: "It's just compressed air...........now, drop those pants........."

juan.kerr · 29-08-2012 12:59PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

not sure if it is still the case that you need to go to the GP for the pill, but I knew a girl who went to her GP for the pill and was he told her would not give it to her as she should not be having sex.

What age was the girl when she was refuse the pill by the GP?

IrishZeus · 29-08-2012 01:04PM

smash wrote: »

I didn't miss the point. you had to go through 2 GP's and a lengthy process to get it resolved. How much did it cost you in total because they didn't know and didn't refer you in the first place?

It cost me €0 due to having a fantastic health insurance package but I take your point.

However, I don't agree with it. For minor issues it would be stupid to refer immediately. This would do only two things - increase specialist waiting times and drive up their prices.

For something that could potentially be a major issue, then yes, immediate referral should be the route they take. Many medical companies have this procedure in place. (I know this for a fact from previously working in them!)

Corkfeen · 29-08-2012 01:06PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

I was hoping to be told something I did not already know. next time I will go a bean feasa.

Erm, did you expect the doctor to invent some far more serious ailment instead of stating the obvious?

Fuinseog wrote: »

I was told by a doctor who smoked that my lifestyle was unhealthy.

Were you expecting him to compare and contrast his lifestyle with yours? You don't necessarily have to be a smoker to have an extremely unhealthy lifestyle and a doctor should not avoid highlighting issues in people's health because of their own flaws in their health.

opinion guy · 29-08-2012 01:09PM

IrishZeus wrote: »

I ran a (fairly large) medical practice for a few years and I would say that doctors are overpaid, but not over-rated.

Like someone sad above, peace of mind can not be under-estimated. Along with this, something minor can in fact be something major which could go unnoticed without a check up. (The internet often has the opposite effect - a common cold often becomes AIDS or the like. Ridiculous stuff.)

That being said, I think the current generation are a bunch of pansies when it comes to a lot of things. When you see people going to the doc with a cold/flu and the likes, it makes the mind boggle. (I'm 27 by the way, so this is not an old mans rant )

27 and managed a large medical practice for a few years ????
How did you manage that ?

hoochis · 29-08-2012 01:11PM

I dont think doctors are overrated. I dont think they are overpayed either. They have huge expenses to pay off from college. Insurance would be very costly also and they pay lots of tax! These are people who have studied very hard through secondary school and college and given up a lot of time while others took the easy route and found a trade to work in during the boom. I have had quotes from tilers, plumbers etc. that were a complete joke and certainly did not reflect their qualifications.

MaxSteele · 29-08-2012 01:12PM

It shouldn't cost 50 euro to be told to get painkillers or antibiotics which cost another 10 or 12 or if you need to visit a consultant, cardiologist, neurologist etc.

Doctor fee's are extortionate.

Fuinseog · 29-08-2012 01:12PM

juan.kerr wrote: »

What age was the girl when she was refuse the pill by the GP?

around 21.

smash · 29-08-2012 01:12PM

opinion guy wrote: »

27 and managed a large medical practice for a few years ????
How did you manage that ?

Like a boss!

IrishZeus · 29-08-2012 01:14PM

opinion guy wrote: »

27 and managed a large medical practice for a few years ????
How did you manage that ?

I started working in the practice and moved from admin to Practice Manager to Business Manager in the space of 11 months due to people above me leaving and moving on. I then stayed in the job myself for a few years before moving on.

Quite simple really.

Fuinseog · 29-08-2012 01:17PM

MaxSteele wrote: »

It shouldn't cost 50 euro to be told to get painkillers or antibiotics which cost another 10 or 12 or if you need to visit a consultant, cardiologist, neurologist etc.

Doctor fee's are extortionate.

it did not cost me 50 euro. it cost me 60. the worst part is that he took my money but gave the impression that he could not be bothered. paying customers are a burden to some.
you need to shop around with the chemist as well. prices differ for the same products.
with certain pills and tablets you can walk into a chemist in France and other EU countries and buy it off the shelf, while here it may only be available on prescription.
the pharmaceutical industry is screwing us.

29-08-2012 01:18PM

Dr Bollocko, is definately overrated.

Soups123 · 29-08-2012 01:18PM

tommyboy2222 wrote: »

Don't think doctors are overrated but I think sometimes they refer you to consultants too hastily.

I found some bumps on my chest so I went to the doctor. She checks them out and says "Ah there's nothing there but I'll refer you to a consultant".

I go to the consultant and he checks them out and tells me "You've nothing wrong with you and your doctor thinks so too".

I didn't mind paying the 60 euro for the doctor but I'm not so sure about the 150 for the consultant.

Are doctors just covering their arses ? Is it a cash making scheme ?

Am I being too harsh ?? :pac:

You found bumps on your chest? your doctor refers you to a specialist you get an all clear and your complaining about 150 for guaranteed piece of mind??? Seriously

29-08-2012 01:19PM

Soups123 wrote: »

You found bumps on your chest? your doctor refers you to a specialist you get an all clear and your complaining about 150 for guaranteed piece of mind??? Seriously

Well if it was just man tits, then you have to admit he was ripped off.

Soups123 · 29-08-2012 01:22PM

Fuinseog wrote: »

I was feeling under the weather recently and decided to seek out a GP. I paid 60 euro for a consultation that did not last 5 mins and for advice that I already knew and could have easily googled. The good doctor seemed to be somewhat condescending but I was too sick to argue.
I think in this day and age when people are more informed they are less likely to put up with any BS from doctors. teachers and guards are heavily criticised in the media but why not the medical profession?

I notice the older generation consider doctors as gods gift to mankind and some of them believe they are.

He was probably condesending because you came in cock sure you knew what was wrong with you probably referencing a self diagnosis using Google. The amount of people I hear saying I think I have 'X' because I checked the symptons on Google, that must piss doctors off no end.

I reckon there are more problems/deaths for people because they find a google reference that tells them they are fine rather than going to a GP.

Also go to your chemist mine is brilliant for the more day to day stuff like feeling under the weather, I'd never go the doctor with flu!

Sarky · 29-08-2012 01:23PM

You're free to avoid going to a doctor. Google's right there, have fun diagnosing yourself with early stage Crohn's disease.

If you don't like paying fifty quid to be told there's nothing really wrong with you, then don't bloody go to a doctor when there's nothing really wrong with you.

juan.kerr · 29-08-2012 01:23PM

tommyboy2222 wrote: »

Don't think doctors are overrated but I think sometimes they refer you to consultants too hastily.

I found some bumps on my chest so I went to the doctor. She checks them out and says "Ah there's nothing there but I'll refer you to a consultant".

I go to the consultant and he checks them out and tells me "You've nothing wrong with you and your doctor thinks so too".

I didn't mind paying the 60 euro for the doctor but I'm not so sure about the 150 for the consultant.

Are doctors just covering their arses ? Is it a cash making scheme ?

Am I being too harsh ?? :pac:

Surely it was your decision to make the appointment with the consultant? You didn't have to go so could have 'saved' yourself 150 euro.

Soups123 · 29-08-2012 01:24PM

RVP 11 wrote: »

Well if it was just man tits, then you have to admit he was ripped off.

He deserves to pay 200 if he's going to the doctor with Moobs

are doctors overrated?

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