Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Why I Refuse Unnecessary Health Care

When I was in a car crash, I was taken quickly in an ambulance to the hospital. I was suffering from severe back pain after the accident, but I soon realized it was most likely muscle strain, which I had experienced before.

I knew there would be little the doctors could do to make me feel better, but they wanted me to stay and suggested I get an MRI on my back (I had had two MRIs previously).

Since I could still move with relative ease, I thought there was little chance I had injured my spine, and my doctors agreed. When I asked what the point was of having an MRI, they said I might have a broken rib, which the MRI would reveal. But when I asked what they would do for me if I had a broken rib, they said they wouldn’t do anything and it would most likely heal on its own.

I refused the procedure and shortly recovered. I’m glad I didn’t get the MRI, and to be honest I was a bit annoyed it was offered to me at all. The doctors all but admitted that it would have been pointless, so why did they even suggest it?

Unnecessary care

More

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

True story -
AND then you have the other side of the spectrum, where you suspect you have lung cancer because you have back pain and other symptom, but your doctor dismisses your concern and makes you go to physical therapy and a back doctor where you waste valuable time doing needless procedures simply because he will not order an MRI.

So you waste a year until you finally get someone to listen too you, but now it is stage 4 and they only give you a few weeks to live.

And then you die leaving your family to pick up the pieces.

Another true story -
Instead of getting a coronary CT scan the doctor orders a nuclear stress test, simply because he gets paid for it. The nuclear stress test is less reliable and finds a problem that isn't really there, so you end up in a cardiac catherization because your boob fuzzed up the image, where as if you had gotten the CT scan that would not have happened.

Another true story -
You have an esophageal disorder that your doctor doesn't tell you about, you get a copy of your test results and find out on your own, end up at another doctors office. Then you find out the procedure he is recommending is because that is all he knows and that there is a better procedure over the bridge. But he won't tell you that.

That article, again, is nothing but propaganda, trying to cull down costs while your provider pilfers your in big premiums.

My thoughts are, since I am paying a $5000 deductible, if I want the procedure, do it, because actually, I am paying for it, not my provider.

Anonymous said...

HA right. I have seen people on the Eastern Shore get love tapped at a light, get out of their car and roll around complaining about their neck--just to make a buck

Anonymous said...

Yes, there are times test are needed that should have
been done and were not I think it would be time to change Doctors
when you investigate your symptons for yourself. Soetimes we need
to be our own Doctors in the matter.
However , there are many test given because of "kickback"
and you better believe it !

Anonymous said...

And wait until next year when premiums go up around 20 to 30 percent... Oh and remember, you all wanted it, you begged for it, you did nothing to stop it so you get what you deserve...

-The conspiracy guy...

Funny how reality isn't a conspiracy, and it shows how stupid you all are and I get to say I told you so yet again!!!!

Anonymous said...

942 I'm interested in your comment. What are some kickbacks that medical professionals get for doing test? Cars, money homes? In particular who got kick backs?

Anonymous said...

You have? Did you go to court and testify what you saw and what is the court doc number?

Anonymous said...

You've got to use your own judgement. i was stung by something last year. my arm swelled up about 5 times normal. After finally being advised to get to a hospital, as you could feel the heat from the inflamation, i was offered numerous RX at the hospital. Some really strong. I took only the antibiotics. And with that said, against the advice of the Nurse, i didn't get it filled. By sat. night my arm was like 10 times it's normal size and immobile. and i was really sick. no pharmacies open in Salisbury on sat. night after 7. so, i ended up back in the ER. They gave me antibiotics, and it improved in a matter of hours. So, I should've listened to the nurse. it cost me an extra trip to the ER.

Anonymous said...

They could have done a much cheaper chest xray if they were looking for a broken rib. A MRI is overkill for that. Not to mention being closed up in that machine if you're claustrophobic!

Anonymous said...

Was in PRMC last month and there were beds in the halls of the ER. I could overhear all. The ER was full up on a Tuesday morning. One of my neighbors was there because she was constipated. There are STILL people using the ER as primary doctor. Needless reasons to be there. Wasn't this suppose to go away with Obama care?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of" kick backs." I came out of the restroom
at my mother's Specialist office where an Office Assistant & gentleman
were ahead of me in the hallway . I overheard the gentleman ask if the Dr had been prescribing a certain
durg and the Assistant said, "Oh yes, he's definitely been pushing that."
Now , what would you think if you'd overheard that remark??

Anonymous said...

Lower Shore orders unnecessary care all the time. They rack up the bills for Medicare and Medicaid patients because that's how they afford their fancy digs out there next to KMart. They even re-diagnose already existing conditions in order to put that one their billables. Disgusting the federal government has promoted this kind of quasi-healthcare sham. Scams are more like it.