Posts by jadesailor14

Kate Collins67 said:Oh, I’d love to do that too—but hey, it's not like anyone asked for my opinion, right? Honestly, we should just slap 100% surcharges on everyone who messes around in the ER, and maybe then everyone would finally just calm down and behave.

Just because I haven't personally had to rely on the ER much doesn't mean I haven't kept an eye on things.😁
I haven't seen any massive, crazy crowds anywhere lately.
Where on earth are you finding these huge lines—is the ER packed like Grand Central Station or something?
I know you probably won't reply, but honestly, this seems a little weird to me! 🤷

Kate Collins67 said:@ jadesailor14

Did the government foot the bill for your K-12 education, or maybe even your college degree? And because they did, are you somehow legally obligated to spend your entire career stuck in public service?
I’m perfectly entitled to feel underpaid and demand a raise—if you actually think you're being compensated fairly, fine, good for you, but I don't. Everyone fights for their own interests, don't they?

Come on then, enlighten me. Give me some actual, concrete examples of other career paths I could take. And please—spare me the vague guesswork and give me specific professions that require longer schooling. Just... please, no more empty clichés about how "we all need to keep learning forever" to justify everything.

Are you legally required to work for the government?
At least today, you have options!

I’d actually love to work for the government right now just for the job security. Sadly, I’m not exactly the best at what I do, and taking sick leave might actually get me fired.
Unfortunately, I didn't think about stuff like this 25 years ago, and now I can't really pivot easily.😁

I won't try to lecture you since you're clearly educated and smart—you'll figure it out on your own! 😉
Just look at the job listings below.

bluehawk37 said:

I expect a salary that matches my education. As for the award, I’m handing it to you—unless someone else wants it.
People in other fields don't undergo the same level of mandatory training or continuous education required in medicine. I won't even get into elective certifications, since those exist everywhere.
Was your fellowship funded by the government or out of your own pocket? Since specialization is essentially just an extension of medical school—and you can't actually practice without it—who should be picking up the tab? Me, or the state I work for?

I agree. It’s scientifically proven that the facts a medical student learns during their first year are either obsolete or completely irrelevant by the third.
We’re expected to attend all these summits and lectures just to stay current. Most of them cost a fortune. Nobody ever asks if we can actually afford it.

If you want to see true professionalism, here is how we should handle about 60-70% of the people walking into an ER: "You can leave now, and you'll be notified later regarding the official legal action being taken against you for obstructing emergency medical services." That would be pure professionalism.

I stand by that. It’s especially necessary when my wife shows up at the ER asking me to check her blood pressure because she feels dizzy and her doctor's office is backed up. -.-

I really think you guys get hit with all kinds of odd requests, though I suspect you might be exaggerating just a little bit here and there.

Speaking of money, though...
I honestly think anyone who books an appointment and then just ghosts it without canceling should get sent a bill for the full amount!
Just imagine how much those waiting lists would shrink if we did that.
I bet half the people book multiple slots thinking they can squeeze in sooner, or they just magically feel better and decide it's too much effort to call and cancel.
If you didn't show up, hey—pay the fee and try booking again! 😁

Kate Collins67 said:You know what true professionalism would look like for about 60-70% of the patients walking into an ER? It would be saying: "You can leave now, and you'll be notified in the morning regarding the official legal proceedings being initiated against you for obstructing emergency medical services." Now *that* would be pure professionalism.

The reality is that these high-ranking officials often hold those positions because the rude, bottom-tier staff handle both their work and the work of those above them—leaving the higher-ups plenty of time to focus on "science" and "advancement" at everyone else's expense. Go to a major teaching hospital and look at the surnames of the veteran doctors versus the names of the newcomers. The young ones whose names you see associated with the older generation will likely be professors and PhDs in a few years; the other group? They'll just become more arrogant doctors. Just so you know how the game is played.

But honestly, none of this affects me.
I really couldn't care less about why you (or anyone else) are so worked up just because some lady caused a scene during the night shift.
I've personally had to hit the ER twice for my own reasons.
Once when I was completely wiped out and needed some serious help,
and the second time because my kid decided to go into labor right at 1:30 AM!
Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of waiting around even once.

I truly believe it comes down to how someone was raised, their personal culture... and whether they actually have the drive and intelligence to keep learning.

Kate Collins67 said:Look, I expect a salary that actually reflects my level of education, but as for a medal? You can have it, or give it to someone else if they want it.
In other fields, people don't undergo the same kind of mandatory, continuous specialization required in medicine—and I'm not even talking about the extra certifications, because those exist everywhere, not just in the medical field.
Was your college degree paid for by the government or out of your own pocket? Since specialization is essentially just an extension of medical school—and you literally cannot practice without it in any reasonable timeframe (actually, in most cases, you can't even start without it)—who exactly is supposed to foot the bill? Me? Or the government/company I work for?

When you crunch the numbers, the paycheck ends up being pretty much in line with the rest of the American healthcare system and the general economy.
We really need to keep our expectations grounded in reality these days. One worker in the private sector is often carrying several other people on their back—think civil servants, kids, the unemployed, and retirees.
I'm sorry you feel like your pay is too low, but that’s hardly an excuse for cutting corners with patients or doing a sloppy job!

It seems like you don't really understand other professions, even though you clearly think yours is the best.
There's honestly nothing left to say about that.

I doubt you'll commit to working for the government your entire career or swear off private practice entirely.
Only in that specific scenario would it be fair for the state to cover your training.
At the end of the day, all this schooling is an investment in oneself, so that's how we should look at it.
That said, we definitely need to encourage excellence! I'm not quite sure how we handle scholarships in the American medical system, but I know they have some amazing programs abroad that are totally top-tier.

bluehawk37 said:It depends on who you are and where you work. Doctors aren't actually that protected. People might just not be used to it. It's different in other countries. A doctor abroad can afford to be more reckless than a doctor in America. Even if my pay gets hit, it’s so meager they don't bother touching it anyway. 😁
But a formal warning or a reprimand goes straight into my permanent file. When it comes time to transfer to another hospital, that follows you. In the worst-case scenario, I could even face jail time. Being unemployed is harder now than it used to be. 😁

Isn't it actually the other way around?
I feel like negligence, rudeness, or bribery are punished much more strictly over there than they are here!
Don't get me wrong, those things definitely happen everywhere, but I really get the impression they hit them harder abroad.
Around here, it seems like people only face consequences if they completely mess everything up; nobody really gives a second thought to the "little things."

bluehawk37 said:There are always two sides to every story. It all comes down to the individual doctor, but I don't show up to work wound up. Usually,
my day is "brightened" by the small things. Sometimes, one stubborn, rude patient threatening to ruin your entire mood is enough to
spoil it for everyone else. I never make excuses for anyone. Everyone gets their five minutes.

Regarding the hallways, like I said, I don't hang around because I don't want to get caught off guard like some
rowdy sports fan. I move through the halls efficiently, handling everything in my office while taking care of minor tasks
on the fly in the corridor. "Ma'am, here are your results, take this and that, and have a nice day."
If there’s no need for a queue or a crowd, I settle it right then and send the patient home or to the pharmacy. Period.

I work with people too—and even though it's not a matter of life and death and my clients can be colorful with their comments, I would never dream of snapping at one of them. We are in the private sector; our survival and our paychecks depend entirely on our clients. Doctors don't have that same pressure: unfortunately, there will always be sick people.

Unfortunately, that's true, but it's a double-edged sword.
A private doctor can get away with almost anything because who is going to fire them? There's a shortage as it is. I saw this firsthand
at a certain summit. A doctor refused to follow union guidelines or whatever, got into an argument, stood up and
asked, "Who's going to fire me?" No one. That's different from being a doctor at a hospital or a government institution. I have a supervisor in administration,
and naturally, a boss at my firm. Feedback matters deeply to me. So, it varies. We have our own fears, too.

The complaint I made earlier didn't mean a thing to anyone,
not even to the director or the medical board.
If I mess up at work, even if nothing else happens, I get a massive lecture from the director—or if things get serious, from the owner. My pay could be cut in half (since part of it is performance bonuses, which they can always slash), and ultimately, I could end up out on the street!
If I were to tell a firm partner to drop dead, I’d be handed my walking papers that very same day. 😁
I guess when someone lacks basic manners, fear is pretty good at tying their tongue.

Yesterday, I noticed a similar topic coming up at my job!
The wording was different, but it all boiled down to the exact same conversations. 😬

bluehawk37 said:Regarding the username. I’m not being rude or arrogant like the guy with the same handle, though we share some traits.
I don't carry a box because I don't want people cornering me in the hallway. I like knowing everything, sticking my nose into business, and throwing colleagues off balance.
Mostly, I just joke around and mess with people (sometimes in a weird way). And yes, I usually grab a few rookies to bring along just so I can
show them the ropes. I also enjoy psychologically nudging patients if I notice they're being difficult. I can't help it,
but I feel the need to point out when people are wrong (provided they actually are).
That said, I'm not cheap and I don't go out with prostitutes.

You could argue it's about work ethic or knowledge, but he is a much greater medical genius, at least according to his reputation. I'm still far
from that level, and even then, it's largely fiction.

I was actually talking about expertise.
If I give you my test results and describe my symptoms, you just get into the zone and... heal me! 😍

I might gossip a little, but I certainly haven't been involved in prostitution! 😁

Since Kyle Lee7 listed a few of her experiences, it reminded me of a total disaster I had three years ago.
My daughter had surgery on both knees when she was 16.
It happened because someone accidentally bumped into her—just a clumsy hit that a healthy person wouldn't even feel—but it messed up both knees. We ended up at the ER at 10 PM (unfortunately, the injury didn't check the clock; if it had happened in the morning, we would've just gone to a salad bar instead).
She was in so much pain she couldn't even walk; thankfully she has crutches, but she still needs extra help.
The doctor on duty asks, "Well, does it hurt?" She says, "Yes."
His response? "Oh, then drop dead."
Honestly, bravo to that person—not as a doctor, but as a human being.
And please, don't take this as me saying all doctors are like that; there are wonderful people in medicine, but you have to admit there's some absolute trash out there too.
We explained the situation, and the scars are clearly visible.
Sure, her mother was chatting away and acting a bit restless that day, but none of his personal issues—whether he was having a bad day or thought I was drunk (when I actually have health issues myself)—justify a comment like that.
My mistake was not waiting until morning so we could skip this lovely treatment and just head to the salad bar.

Jacob Fox6 said:You definitely have a pretty wild job dynamic...🙂
I'd love to do something like that once I graduate... 🙂

I am totally with you on what you said, jadesailor14. I just don't get why people insist on denying the fact that being a doctor is a job, just like any other profession. You get up in the morning, head into the office, deal with a mountain of patients all with different issues, then go home to your family, and that's it. Any demand placed on a doctor outside of basic professional courtesy feels completely absurd to me...

And about those oncologists... man, that has to be the toughest job on the planet... you do everything in your power and still know the odds are stacked against them... facing death and seeing families fall apart every single day is heavy, and I honestly think the only way to mentally survive and stay sane is to just become a bit numb... I don't see any other way... every patient and their family is going to look for a shoulder to cry on, but nobody really understands where the doctor is standing in all of that. It's not just that outsiders—people who aren't doctors—can't wrap their heads around it, it's that even other doctors who aren't in oncology or hematology struggle to grasp what their colleagues are going through since they aren't staring down those specific problems quite as often...

I'm seriously signing my name to everything you just said...

Are you having trouble reading? 😁
I already mentioned that it's a job just like any other!
I make sure to book my appointments properly, wait patiently in the lobby, and when I'm called in, I keep things short and sweet so I don't waste anyone's time (I actually write down bullet points so I don't forget anything or ramble too much 😁). All I expect is a solid check-up and some professional advice on what steps to take next
. I truly couldn't care less if that doctor had a rough morning, what their salary is, or what kind of drama they have going on at home... none of that matters to me
. I just want a straightforward, professional conversation that results in a solution
. And no, I'm definitely not volunteering for an AIDS test 😬
.
From my own experience running around various hospitals, I've noticed a bit of a pattern
. Most of the time, my issues were actually with staff members who weren't quite hitting the mark
. The rudest ones were usually the junior doctors and nurses
. On the flip side, the ones who have built successful careers and actually earned their positions have always been totally great
.

bluehawk37, love the username! Do you feel like you live up to it with your skills and hard work?
Because that's exactly the kind of doctor I need right now! 🤣

bluehawk37 said:I am speaking from my own perspective. You get what you give. How you treat others is how they will treat you. I don't see the issue.

When I said ten years, the emphasis was on the second half of my point. But fine, it doesn't matter. I paid for my own specialization. I don't expect admiration because I work essentially as a humanitarian. Gratitude is rare, and it doesn't affect me because I know I've done my part. I have my honors, but not because of school or my title.
I'm not claiming to be more valuable than anyone else, nor have I ever made that point. It's just impressive how you take a simple phrase about ten years of experience and turn it into a way to deflect the topic. Typical American behavior. Like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. A shame.

We've seen posts like this before.
The whole "I've been studying forever, working my tail off, and still making nothing" routine... Most people feel that way, so you can take that energy elsewhere.
Just like how you feel, the lady behind the counter at the bank feels it too.
But at least you have the freedom to vent about the misery hitting you, whereas if she raises her voice, she might lose her job.
As a patient, your personal life—or anyone else's for that matter—doesn't affect me even one percent. I just don't care.
I don't bring my own baggage into the waiting room or the exam room, so I really don't want to be burdened by someone else's drama either.
If we were friends, I could totally empathize with your frustrations, but in this setting? I'm just not interested.
All I want is pure, cold professionalism, though sometimes that's hard to find.
And that's the catch.
I don't want people taking their frustrations out on me, treating me like an idiot, or acting like I'm garbage...

There's always another side to the story that looks exactly the same. 😬
Yeah, people can be jerks, but that goes both ways in any situation.

Jacob Fox6 said:.....People can be absolute scum......

I really can't argue with that—some people definitely are.
But honestly, you find scum on both sides of the aisle.

So, you mentioned you'd love to see patients stepping into the doctors' shoes for once.
I bet it would be quite the sight to see some of those arrogant, rude doctors experiencing life as patients when they end up under the care of one of their own colleagues!
And let's be real, they wouldn't have their buddies looking out for them, either.

Ten years of school, training, and specializing...
Why emphasize that so much? Are you expecting a medal for it, or maybe some special thanks or admiration?
Do you think people in other professions don't spend years studying and honing their craft throughout their entire lives?
And most of them aren't even doing it on the government's dime—they're paying for it themselves!
Nowadays, if you aren't constantly leveling up, you just get left behind in the job market.

runjaninova
Last year we could have just gone to the clinic on Laginjina or over at the community health center in Brooklyn
but honestly, you should probably just give them a call first

Steven Reyes8 said:It’s honestly hard to wrap my head around how he actually made it through that—it feels like a miracle. Does anyone have any thoughts on this whole heartbreaking situation?

I think his parents, family, and closest friends are the only ones who truly know the details.
If they feel like you need to hear it, they'll tell you
but personally, I feel like it's better to focus on living your own life rather than dwelling on such a tragic story here on the forum.

I have a bit of a grievance here, though I’m honestly not sure if typing it out will actually change anything

The issue is that certain specialists love to drop that classic line, "Go consult your primary physician," but I have absolutely no clue who they're talking about. It’s not because I’m being lazy or difficult—it’s just that the specialist didn't bother finishing their job in the first place, so why should I go hunting for someone else?

Look, I get that not every patient is a saint, but let's be real: plenty of doctors aren't exactly sunshine and rainbows either!

Kate Collins67 said:I'm curious about that woman you mentioned during the hallway scene—did she actually write down a formal diagnosis on the discharge papers or some kind of medical report? Because if she didn't, I'm really struggling to wrap my head around the point you're trying to make here.

And honestly, what does a diagnosis on a piece of paper actually accomplish?
What is a patient supposed to do with it?
They already know they feel terrible; now they just have a fancy name for that "terrible" feeling... so what's next?

Kate Collins67 said:I absolutely can, because I spent way too much time being a patient before I entered the medical field—and unlike you, I didn't have anyone on the inside helping me out.

Look, it irritates me. Do you really want me to lie to your face and tell you this situation is "charming"?
It's hard to even argue about this—does someone actually know the diagnosis or not? Because if a diagnosis exists, it’s documented somewhere: a discharge summary, an outpatient report, a medical history, something! If there is no diagnosis, then there's nothing to talk about. I don't know the specifics of the case, I don't have the details, so it's impossible for me to offer any meaningful insight.

I totally get why it’s annoying—I’d feel the exact same way! 😬
Since my job involves mostly paperwork, I can't really complain if people think I'm being grumpy, rude, or cold toward them.
The truth is, I just don't have the patience or the drive for customer service; human stupidity drives me absolutely crazy, and I'm definitely not the most social person... which is exactly why I didn't choose a career working directly with the public!

Your average person doesn't know how to interpret medical results.
The diagnosis is all in Latin—so what are they supposed to do with that?
I really believe doctors should set aside some actual time to explain things clearly to their patients and walk them through the next steps.
Where else is a patient supposed to go to find that kind of info?

Kate Collins67 said:1. You won't achieve much by introducing communication studies—and not because of the subject itself, but because of the system again. Take Emergency Medicine, for instance; I don't even know if it's still taught or what they call it now. Basically, subjects directly tied to the job are prioritized over ethics, communication, ecology, epidemiology, and all those other "filler subjects." And that core subject was such a joke (if I recall correctly) that most people passing it couldn't actually provide basic first aid... and keep in mind, we're talking about future doctors here. Go back to the first page and look at that point regarding the poor quality of medical school.

2. Everyone views a situation from their own perspective—that's just human nature—but I can see it from both sides because I've been a patient and I'll be one again, and on top of that, I'm a doctor. Most of you only have the luxury of seeing things from one single angle, and when it comes to explaining why we sometimes act the way we do to someone outside the profession, it's almost impossible.

3. The person involved knows exactly what happened, but as for why they weren't admitted to the Mayo Clinic, only the person who turned them away knows that. If I were to report them, I'd have to be right there to witness exactly what went down, and even if I did, getting personally involved in someone else's mess isn't my thing—mostly because, legally speaking, I can only...

4. Cornering a doctor in the hallways is incredibly irritating for us. I honestly don't know what to say to that comment. All I can say is that if there's a designated time for consultations, that's when you should show up. Then again, from my experience in practice, even during consultation hours, they're often too busy actually working, leading to that vicious cycle of having too many patients and not enough doctors.

You just can't
because different rules apply to you; basically, the rules fly out the window once you become a patient.
Still, you're a "colleague" with friends and connections inside the system, whereas I'm just some random person, jadesailor14.

4. So, catching people in the hallways is irritating? Don't parents deserve a quick chat and an explanation about what happened to their child? We're talking about being too busy for three months, not just three hours.
They couldn't find any time in three whole months? That honestly feels like just pretending to be busy and acting untouchable.
It’s funny how some doctors always manage to find the time.

Kate Collins67 said:Are you going to ask that same question when you leave your own mother or father stuck in a hospital bed, relying on strangers just to wash them and feed them because you couldn't be bothered to handle it yourself at home? (That’s just standard behavior for an American patient's family.)

If you're going to throw a question like that directly at someone, you really ought to try and learn a little bit about who they actually are first.
No way—I would never "leave" my parents anywhere, but honestly, that is none of your business!
Besides, you can't just drop people off at a hospital and expect them to stay there for months under someone else's watch.

Angela Wright said:🙄

Oh, I will achieve something, especially now, just out of pure spite for you and everyone else who refuses to budge.😳
Actually, we are very close to making communication studies a mandatory colloquium alongside subjects like ethics—and you won't get far in medical school without passing it.

How could I not be involved in the system? I am a patient; I am part of that system. The thing is, I'm looking at the situation from a different angle, but I've also taken it upon myself to study things from a professional perspective. That's usually what doctors do once they become patients themselves.
And you know what? I realize you guys are totally checked out, that you're miserable, and that the burden of that falls squarely on the patient's shoulders.
But that doesn't justify a lack of humanity—the inability to explain to a person what the problem is, who failed them, and what needs to happen next. And no, I don't think you're an animal for how you handled that hematology patient. What strikes me is your utter incompetence in communicating with the person. Why didn't you report that incompetent colleague? There is Medicare to oversee those kinds of failures.

Let me give you an example of a total communication breakdown experienced by the parents of a child with a malignant illness. They told me about it in the nursery. For three months, these parents couldn't get a straight answer regarding their child's diagnosis. They couldn't catch the doctor, couldn't talk to her, and couldn't schedule consultations during her working hours or whenever she felt like it. One day, they were practically pleading in the hospital hallway when she came by, and she snapped at them: "Why are you cornering me in the hallway? I don't have time to deal with this with you; I'm busy treating children who actually *can* be cured!"
In your eyes, is that a normal reaction from a pediatric oncologist? Is that how you're supposed to tell parents, after three months of zero communication, that their child is dying and there's no hope?
By Sharia law, that deserves stoning.😳
A dysfunctional system is no excuse for such disgusting behavior. Sorry, but if you don't have the temperament for this, lady, go grow tomatoes in the backyard and work on your nerves. Everyone knows how grueling a doctor's life is and how much it demands of you.

You're actually more embedded in the system than most of the medical staff, but I guess some people just struggle to accept that.

Kate Collins67 said:Sigh...
All I can say is you get exactly the system you deserve.

If you step away from all this fake moralizing for a second, you’ll realize that nobody here is actually talking about how things *should* be—we’re talking about how life actually works, what our actual options are in this messed-up existence, and the choices being forced upon us every single day.

This isn't some matter of personal preference; it's being imposed on us by the entire system.
And honestly, if your hair is standing on end because of a comment like that, you clearly aren't ready for a real debate. Opinions exist to be argued and dismantled with logic, not feelings.

Out of everyone here holding an opinion contrary to mine, it's funny how not one single person seems to be a professional—and let’s be clear, having a job at Vixen versus whatever else is going on, those ideals die pretty fast when reality hits.
Unlike some people around here, I don't need some Hippocratic oath or a local priest to lecture me on morality; when it comes to making decisions, I use my own damn head.

@ Sarah Johnson11 — your story comes from personal experience, and the way you're writing this just reflects your disgust and the fear that what I’m saying might somehow rub off on you. But believe me, I'm neither a monster nor insane; it's just incredibly difficult to unpack complex issues on a forum. To really get into it, you need a continuous dialogue lasting hours or even days—a forum post is always just a fragment of a thought.

Is lacking basic humanity considered "immature"?
Because cutting off medical care and dignified support for our seniors and the critically ill—what exactly does that say about us?
Who gets to play judge and decide who deserves care and treatment?
Are some people just trying to play God to satisfy their own egos and interests?

And as for ideals dying out too fast... I don't think anyone qualified to judge that has ever actually lived by them.
Sure, some die out, but there are plenty of people out there who carry those values with them for their entire lives!

Austin Williams20 said:Okay, so how can a doctor prescribe something he’s never heard of, let alone something that isn't even on the approved drug list here in the States? Following your logic, doctors can just prescribe whatever random thing pops into their heads—even fake Viagra! You're just parroting that link you're too lazy to actually post.

And if anyone here actually wanted to help me, they’d offer some real, concrete advice instead of these "wise" little comments and jabs.

As for how I'm acting, I don't owe anyone an apology. I deal with idiots this way because none of you know what it's like dealing with a woman who threatens suicide, divorce, and constant screaming—acting just like a toddler, only without the diaper changes. It's left the kids avoiding coming home like it's toxic, which is going to haunt them forever. Not to mention having a boss who's threatened to fire me countless times because I have to run home every two hours to check on a wife who's been fading away for four years.

If you actually knew anything about that, maybe I'd get actual advice instead of just empty talk from blowhards.

Anyway, bye. I don't have the time or the energy for fools and their nonsense, much less arguing with people who act beneath me.

Honestly, if she had asked for heroin, I probably could've found it easier than this damn medication.

So just fuck off—you and your whole country.
You guys deserve each other.

Poor woman, dealing with all of you.😢
The biggest favor you could do for her would be to put her in a nursing home.
This is just terrible.

Besides, you're lying.
A woman in that condition definitely isn't out hosting neighborhood get-togethers or gossiping with friends.

melloworca6 said:I think this thread should be locked because there's nothing left to say.

Give him a warning and a ban.