5 ms·

Couldn't agree with this more. I'm from MN, we tend to be pretty polite and understated, assume that doctors (and other authorities) know what they're talking

Couldn't agree with this more. I'm from MN, we tend to be pretty polite and understated, assume that doctors (and other authorities) know what they're talking about. Had a friend who progressed to a heart attack in a waiting room because he didn't want to make a fuss. Make a fuss.

lancewiggs 10y ago
This was in Australia. A senior cardiologist has no motivation other than saving your life, and the symptoms were very clear. Meanwhile a stent operation is relatively trivial - as was explained later in the piece. If he'd asked for a second opinion it could very well have added enough time to make things a lot worse.
- gpawl 10y ago
  motivation doesn't imply correctness. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1373373/Study-shows-heart-patients-bypass-surgery-DONT-live-longer-patients-pills.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1373373/Study-show...
- taberiand 10y ago
  I think it was less about asking a second opinion than making sure the doctors opinion was drawn from all the available facts.
- martyvis 10y ago
  Interestingly this article on HN last week addressed the finding that while stents are often prescribed for chest pain symptoms it is doubtful they have a more favorable outcome than other treatments https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13713563#13716162 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13713563#13716162
agumonkey 10y ago
My aunt waited 4 hours even vomiting ... If you don't bleed out they assume you have nothing. We need to adjust healthcare. Way more important than the digital world and social networks.
- mitchty 10y ago
  Sounds like standard triage, I've dated a nurse and the general order of priority was: - unconscious/bleeding - bleeding - everything else Its not that they assume you have nothing its that if you're conscious, whatever you have can wait.
  - agumonkey 10y ago
    We all understand that there is priority. But it seems a corner case when you have a condition that will worsen a lot in hours even though you're not bleeding nor unconscious.

lancewiggs 10y ago

This was in Australia. A senior cardiologist has no motivation other than saving your life, and the symptoms were very clear. Meanwhile a stent operation is relatively trivial - as was explained later in the piece. If he'd asked for a second opinion it could very well have added enough time to make things a lot worse.

gpawl 10y ago
motivation doesn't imply correctness. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1373373/Study-shows-heart-patients-bypass-surgery-DONT-live-longer-patients-pills.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1373373/Study-show...
taberiand 10y ago
I think it was less about asking a second opinion than making sure the doctors opinion was drawn from all the available facts.
martyvis 10y ago
Interestingly this article on HN last week addressed the finding that while stents are often prescribed for chest pain symptoms it is doubtful they have a more favorable outcome than other treatments https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13713563#13716162 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13713563#13716162

agumonkey 10y ago

My aunt waited 4 hours even vomiting ... If you don't bleed out they assume you have nothing. We need to adjust healthcare. Way more important than the digital world and social networks.

mitchty 10y ago
Sounds like standard triage, I've dated a nurse and the general order of priority was: - unconscious/bleeding - bleeding - everything else Its not that they assume you have nothing its that if you're conscious, whatever you have can wait.
- agumonkey 10y ago
  We all understand that there is priority. But it seems a corner case when you have a condition that will worsen a lot in hours even though you're not bleeding nor unconscious.