Are our Doctors competent?

concerned43

I ask this question because over the last couple of months people I know have had mis-diagnosis from their doctors:
1) BIL saw GP 6 months ago as was having chest pains, doctor dismissed these pains for indigestion - 2 months later collapses and admitted to hospital, turns out he had a faulty heart valve and needed it replaced + triple heart bypass.
2) Colleague has been suffering from upper stomach pains for past year - GP diagnoses IBS, pain gets so bad she asks for more tests to be done, GP refuses. Last week diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given months to live.
3) SIL has massive headache week, saw her GP who diagnosed Migrane, head does not get better and she is back at GP who gives her stronger pain killers, still no better and GP gives more painkillers. Headache still not better and sees GP again yesterday at 5pm, collapses at GPs - taken to hospital and dies hours later.

Does anyone know of similar mis-diagnosis? Do you trust your GP?

Humphrey10

Yes, but no where near as serious as the ones you describe though.

They (3 GPs in total) said I had type 2 diabetes, when I finally (after years of increasing blood sugar levels, despite constantly increasing types and doses of tablets) saw a consultant who tested me for type 1, was diagnosed as having type 1 diabetes. It had never been type 2 diabetes, it would be extremely rare for someone my age to have type 2 diabetes, and the tablets I was on will have hastened the destruction of the beta cells in my pancreas.

Also, I described a couple of years ago some symptoms I was having occasionally to a GP. He said it was panic attacks. I believed him. One of the 'panic attacks' happened the other day in front of witnesses (no one has ever been there when it's happened before). I was apparently unconscious, and having convulsions. Doesn't sound like a panic attack to me. They are doing tests to find the cause.

I know of countless examples of people being prescribed medication that was dangerous to take with their pre-existing medical conditions, or with other medication they were taking. Luckily things like that are usually picked up by the pharmacist, it's a good reason to make sure you always use the same one so they get to know what medication you are on.

faithcecilia

After having my appendix out at 17 I started geiing very severe abdominal pains and missed my period. I went to gp who asked if there was any chance I could be pregnant. I told her no as I was a virgin. She sent me to hospital where I was given an internal ultrasound which was agonising and upsetting for me. I cried that it was painful and asked it it could be done externally as I was a virgin, and she whipped it out and asked me how it was she had been asked to look for ectopic pregnancy:eek: I never saw that gp again - if she wouldn't believe me on something like that, I didn't want her treating me for anything else.

It actually turned out I have very nasty adhesions from the appendectomy, and after a quick op the pain went almost instantly.

Toothsmith

Is it the Drs or the system that they have to work in?

Red_Doe

Imo it`s the doctors. The doctor here has misdiagnosed at least three people I know of, resulting in the death of one, who herself had been a nurse and from her own symptoms suspected cancer. Doc disagreed and refused to refer her. Months later she died.
I have very little confidence in this doctor, I know bedside manner is no prerequisite for giving good service but when many patients are already nervous and afraid of what they may have, treating them like you would treat delinquents in secondary school can make patients reluctant to go have symptoms attended to that they should.
Speaking personally, I wish I had the money to go private. Here, this doc is the only one in this very large, very remote area and there is no other available so we are stuck.

busiscoming2

faithcecilia wrote: »

After having my appendix out at 17 I started geiing very severe abdominal pains and missed my period. I went to gp who asked if there was any chance I could be pregnant. I told her no as I was a virgin. She sent me to hospital where I was given an internal ultrasound which was agonising and upsetting for me. I cried that it was painful and asked it it could be done externally as I was a virgin, and she whipped it out and asked me how it was she had been asked to look for ectopic pregnancy:eek: I never saw that gp again - if she wouldn't believe me on something like that, I didn't want her treating me for anything else.

It actually turned out I have very nasty adhesions from the appendectomy, and after a quick op the pain went almost instantly.

Mine was similar:

I knew I was newly pregnant and had terrible stomach pains, went to GP who did internal and confirmed I was pregnant. Diagnosed constipation, although I had informed him everything was normal.
Went back to GP a couple of days later as pain was worse (couldn't stand up straight) prescribed me something to make me 'go'.
Within 24 hours I was very ill and ambulanced to hospital where I nearly died and had to have a transfusion because no one had thought it might have been an ectopic pregnancy!

aliasojo

And there was I thinking it was just my family that attracted the not so good doctors.

Years ago my Mother was told she was 'putting it on' when she complained of agonising head pains. She was eventually diagnosed as having a brain tumour and had to get half her skull removed.

She also used to collapse for no apparent reason, the Docs reckoned she was putting that on too. They left her lying on the grass in the grounds of a hospital as they said she could easily pick herself up. A visiting Doctor drove past in his car, picked her up and took her inside to examine her. She was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.

Very recently my aunt was told her swallowing issues were stress related. The lump in her throat was supposedly not indicative of an actual lump. She was later diagnosed with throat cancer. When she was operated on and various blood tests were done, it was found she had no thyroid function. No-one told her or her own Doctor the results of the tests so for over a year she had the belief that her worsening condition was the result of her cancer and the treatment. Now this has been discovered, she is receiving the appropriate treatment and is feeling well for the first time in years. Apparently new systems have been put in place as a result of her case, to ensure this can't happen again.

On a lesser note, my own son was told his stomach pain was perhaps a result of him being bullied at school. A laughable thought to all who knew him but Doc would not be told he was barking up the wrong tree. Later that day, he had explosive sickness and diarrhea as did half the school.

So my view is that Doctors are not all seeing all knowing beings. They can get things wrong just like anyone else. I will always still happily consult a Doctor but I will also do my own research into what I'm being told and will either go back or see someone else if I'm at all concerned about anything. My own Doctor hates that people are able to consult the internet, he reckons he has spent years training and is always best placed to advise or diagnose. On the other hand, a consultant I once spoke to was always happy to listen to alternative view points or suggestions, he said he wasn't God so didn't know it all and medicine was a continual learning process for all involved. I had more trust in him that any other Doc I've seen.

aliasojo

Toothsmith wrote: »

Is it the Drs or the system that they have to work in?

Absolutely without doubt, the Doctors themselves.

faithcecilia

Definately the doctors. My old 'usual' gp, at the same practise as the one I had trouble with, is a diamond. He is a proper, 'old fashioned' gp who makes a point of getting to know his patients. I was able to discuss my mums mental haelth with him in a roundabout way - I knew he knew we were talking about her, but she was never mentioned so no breech of confidentiality - and when I had injured my knee, he asked my mum at her next appointment how I was doing. He has specialised in both cardiology and diabetes in the past, and the hospital would do anything to get him back, but he loves general practise. There isn't a string he can't pull if he thinks you need urgent, specialist treatment.

welshdent

"doctors" - no ... some doctors ... yes. I know some excellent doctors that I would happily entrust my life to! ALthough I would rather not have to ... I also know some rubbish ones.

I do feel though that having only a few minutes here and there to see you is not a great way to work but they dont have much of a choice the contrary

concerned43

Having worked in the NHS for 15 years I feel something has went horribly wrong with our healthcare. I am really focusing on GPs and frontline A&E staff.
Don't believe the issue is lack of time but more that their knowledge is lacking. Why aren't we asked to rate our GPs so that further action could be taken, if proved negligent, by a Government Body?