Things Not to Say to a Sick Person with a Genetic Disorder

Wow, doctors can say ridiculous, insulting things. Two real winners I heard about from friends:

1. "In spite of your genes, you seem quite intelligent."

A doctor said this to a patient. Can you imagine? The patient should have replied "In spite of your medical degree, you seem profoundly stupid and ill-mannered!"

2. "If I saw you on a bus, I wouldn't be able to tell that there was anything odd or wrong about you."

A doctor said this to a patient. Again, can you imagine? The patient herself commented that she should have put her hands around the doctor's neck and asked "Can you tell now?!?"

I've got to add these horrible examples of bedside manner to my list of reasons to change to a new doctor.

Got any winners from your own experiences? Leave a comment!

Comments

[Tiffany]

Well, I actually posted my list on my blog a long time ago and it's in my book also...still, I couldn't resist the urge to share!!

Here are my Top 10 Actual Quotes from Medical Professionals that made me want to run screaming from the room

1. "It's been a long time since I've dealt with real patients."

2. Her: "You have good veins, right?" Me: "No." Her (sarcastically): "Oh, grrrreeeat!"

3. "How do you spell cystic?"

4. "Let me go ask what this test is."

5. "I don't remember our conversation about your medication allergies. I was on pain meds."

6. "Did you pass gas from your bottom?"

7. "You don't have any pain medication ordered so you can't have any."

8. "Oooh, we didn't realize you had that procedure done. We'll need to run that test again."

9. "Ewww. Gross. Your urine smells like cat pee."

10. "I hate this f***ing rotation!" (spoken while cutting my arm open to place a PIC line)

I actually hand this list out to medical students when I talk to them about how vulnerable it feels to be a patient and what a powerful impact their words can have. The first time I did it, I thought I would see eyes bugging out in shock but I didn't. Instead, I saw nods--these quotes were not foreign to them.
It's my sincere hope that the more patients learn to advocate for themselves and the more we educate young docs about the patient perspective, the less these kinds of things will be said. I have a dream!! :)

[Anne]

Hi,

I have had chronic intractible migraine/ New Daily Persistent Headache since age 17, now 27.

Here are a few of my personal favorite comments:

-"The only way to get rid of a migraine is to go home and sleep"- ER nurse after I had been told to go to the ER for 7 day, 8/10 migraine.

-"There is no way you can be in that much pain after the medication. Now, get out of the room, I need it for a "real patient". ER dr.

-"How did it feel to be that close to death"- prof who visited me in the hospital when the ER gave me 2xs the dose of Depakan.

-your migraines are an inconvenice to others and a detriment to the community.- prof at divinity school.

So, those are my top five worst comments ever.

Pain free days,
sailingm

-

[Vicky]

How about "you are a smart girl....just look it up on the internet!" I asked him about what type of Chemo-like drugs he was thinking about putting me on.

Or...

Telling my hubs when he had a question about a study going on at John Hopkins that it was "poppycock".