And worry about Shaffrey - tomorrow's appt...
Anyhow, I do NOT think it necessary to assume that the reasons I was given are the "real ones" . I DO hope I'm able to unravel them, in the end. And I also hope Bridwell doesn't mess up my relationship with Shaffrey! Wow, would that ever be non-Kosher if he does! However, I've found out on countless occasions that professionals OFTEN violate confidentiality, among friends. That refers to school personnel, as well as physicians. After all, to whom are they primarily loyal? Their buddies or strange patients appearing out of nowhere?
And I'm not about to burn my bridges with Shaffrey until I have other bridges built. Or unless I myself decide I have fears about his surgical approach. The whole thing is extremely delicate, HUMANLY. Physicians are much more "ordinary" in their motivation than patients realize - WANT to realize...I remember once a surgeon wrote a really off-the-wall (negative and inaccurate) report on me. Discovered when I requested my records. An anesthesiologist I discussed it with, hinted that orthopedic surgeons tended to make such "pre-emptive" reports about patients who "asked many/too many questions".
He said that's because their experience taught them such patients were more apt to be dissatisfied and to sue them (they're already the most sued professionals). I contested the report in a nice letter and it was rewritten - important in my permanent file! Anyhow, what goes on behind the scenes with surgeons is not necessarily what we'd like to think - that is, determined by the pt's best interests, etc.
Just some musing, associated with this issue. After all, I need to deal with it tomorrow when I meet with Dr Shaffrey again. And no, I'm not about to give him any grounds to reject me as I discuss surgical issues with him. There's SO much which can influence a surgeon's decision to accept a patient or not - and not what we'd like to believe. What's more it will really demoralize me if he drops me too! And note, if it DOES happen, I expect it to be done on a pretext (but really to be based on contact with Bridwell).
I want to understand his intentions and capabilities, and then make the decision based on MY best interests! It's already worrying that I've made a bit of a fuss about scheduling based on my insurance issues. Staff persons also can turn surgeons against accepting patients- fairly or unfairly.
The only doctors who DON'T fine tune such decisions are surgeons who are NOT "in demand". This is lucrative surgery, and only less "popular" surgeons fail to drop "undesirables" - ones who just MIGHT be a nuisance in any way. Medical issues are only one factor - often the least of them. I was very unhappy to note Bridwell's inquisitiveness about prior surgeon consults - especially since he was the only surgeon who also asked for patients to sign a waiver. NOT a coincidence I feel sure. That plus asking why the surgeons had turned the pt off (cleverly worded to elicit damning info about the pt him/herself).
God help me, if Dr Bridwell has burnt my bridges for me! It's already suspicious that I haven't received his consult notes by now. I caution the rest of you to look "under the rugs" about physician decision making - especially if you want to maximize your own control of a situation...It's scary.
Anyhow, I do NOT think it necessary to assume that the reasons I was given are the "real ones" . I DO hope I'm able to unravel them, in the end. And I also hope Bridwell doesn't mess up my relationship with Shaffrey! Wow, would that ever be non-Kosher if he does! However, I've found out on countless occasions that professionals OFTEN violate confidentiality, among friends. That refers to school personnel, as well as physicians. After all, to whom are they primarily loyal? Their buddies or strange patients appearing out of nowhere?
And I'm not about to burn my bridges with Shaffrey until I have other bridges built. Or unless I myself decide I have fears about his surgical approach. The whole thing is extremely delicate, HUMANLY. Physicians are much more "ordinary" in their motivation than patients realize - WANT to realize...I remember once a surgeon wrote a really off-the-wall (negative and inaccurate) report on me. Discovered when I requested my records. An anesthesiologist I discussed it with, hinted that orthopedic surgeons tended to make such "pre-emptive" reports about patients who "asked many/too many questions".
He said that's because their experience taught them such patients were more apt to be dissatisfied and to sue them (they're already the most sued professionals). I contested the report in a nice letter and it was rewritten - important in my permanent file! Anyhow, what goes on behind the scenes with surgeons is not necessarily what we'd like to think - that is, determined by the pt's best interests, etc.
Just some musing, associated with this issue. After all, I need to deal with it tomorrow when I meet with Dr Shaffrey again. And no, I'm not about to give him any grounds to reject me as I discuss surgical issues with him. There's SO much which can influence a surgeon's decision to accept a patient or not - and not what we'd like to believe. What's more it will really demoralize me if he drops me too! And note, if it DOES happen, I expect it to be done on a pretext (but really to be based on contact with Bridwell).
I want to understand his intentions and capabilities, and then make the decision based on MY best interests! It's already worrying that I've made a bit of a fuss about scheduling based on my insurance issues. Staff persons also can turn surgeons against accepting patients- fairly or unfairly.
The only doctors who DON'T fine tune such decisions are surgeons who are NOT "in demand". This is lucrative surgery, and only less "popular" surgeons fail to drop "undesirables" - ones who just MIGHT be a nuisance in any way. Medical issues are only one factor - often the least of them. I was very unhappy to note Bridwell's inquisitiveness about prior surgeon consults - especially since he was the only surgeon who also asked for patients to sign a waiver. NOT a coincidence I feel sure. That plus asking why the surgeons had turned the pt off (cleverly worded to elicit damning info about the pt him/herself).
God help me, if Dr Bridwell has burnt my bridges for me! It's already suspicious that I haven't received his consult notes by now. I caution the rest of you to look "under the rugs" about physician decision making - especially if you want to maximize your own control of a situation...It's scary.
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