Can you complain about possible incompetence (urologist) 20 December 2020 at 12:50PM edited 22 January at 6:20PM in Health & Beauty MoneySaving 33 replies 1.8K views

fred246

A lot of the problems stem from people reading US websites where medicine has always been practised differently. The UK tries to manage the health of the whole population. So at the moment the UK is treating COVID and cancer and life threatening conditions. Aching balls are not high on the priority list. The urologist will know the local situation. The availability of interventional radiologists in your area may be poor. The CCG may not fund the procedure. The solution is in the US model of healthcare. Find the best interventional radiologist you can find in treating aching balls. Contact them and say you have the cash waiting for them when they can fit you in.

sheramber

It also depends on what the GP submitted in the referral.

ToxicWomble

So you have self diagnosed a grade 3 yet someone who spent 10+ years training says grade 1.

It doesn’t sound as though you should continue with this urologist.

Ask for a 2nd opinion but I wouldnt be too hasty as throwing terms like incompetence around untill you have it confirmed at least that the diagnosis/grading he/she has suggested is incorrect - even then there may be some opinion based thinking involved

Undervalued

ToxicWomble said:

So you have self diagnosed a grade 3 yet someone who spent 10+ years training says grade 1.

It doesn’t sound as though you should continue with this urologist.

Ask for a 2nd opinion but I wouldnt be too hasty as throwing terms like incompetence around untill you have it confirmed at least that the diagnosis/grading he/she has suggested is incorrect - even then there may be some opinion based thinking involved

Quite.

There is a saying that a man who is his own advocate has a fool for his client!

I wonder if this is true for DIY urology as well?

Obviously the OP may be correct and the urologist with 10+ years training may be wrong. But with all due respect to the OP, he needs some proper evidence to back that up. At the very least a second opinion from somebody equally or better qualified than the first urologist.

Undervalued

Ironkettleblack said:

The key thing here is that the urologist did not insist on performing any objective tests to verify his claims or give any advice as to how proceed. It was the patient who had to insist on a second opinion. How many people can we collectively name (including ourselves that have been told something by a medical professional that turned out to be well, rubbish? 

We can hopefully agree that this male issue has different grades as confirmed by the urologist in question ( & worldwide). Why would the urologist only consider taking things further on a grade 3, Has grades 1/2 been shown to not cause any damage?

Incompetent, yes. My scan clearly shows something is wrong. The urologist tells me I just have sensitive testicles. So the scan which shows my valves aren't operating correcting on the same side as my painful balls is just pure coincidence? I've mentioned a few times how he didn't have any answer to this but to pass me on to someone else. 

Reminds me of when a doctor diagnosed my knee from touching it and said all is well. 2nd opinion and an MRI said differently. Or the one who mentioned that whey protein powder can increase my chance of cancer.

So yes, you'll probably find the word incompetence a lot with medical 'professionals' I've experienced.

You may be right, nobody here can possibly tell. 

I have acted as a witness for a friend who successfully (after a struggle lasting many years) claimed significant compensation from the NHS following a surgeon's incompetence. So yes, it does happen. To an extent that is inevitable.

However, from your posts I get the clear impression is that your starting point is that any medical professional you see is wrong unless proved otherwise? Maybe that is unfair? Maybe you have had genuine bad experiences, if so that is unfortunate?

Sadly I don't think you are going to get anything useful out of continuing this thread. 

theoretica

I thought you said the specialist had written to the GP suggesting the GP does consider referring you for the treatment you want?  In which case my next action would be to ask the GP to please do so.  If that happens does it matter whether the diagnosis on record is grade 1, 2 or 3?

sheramber

If you want to know if the problem has affected your fertility at present then you do   not need a urologist. 
Your GP can arrange for a sperm count to be done.
If it is whether it will affect iit n the future then that cannot be checked at present.

Torry_Quine

A week to hear back what's happening is nothing at any time, especially just now. I think you just need to be patient for a bit longer. It does seem that your GP supports you and I really hope that you get the satisfactory outcome correct for the problem.

[Deleted User]

Torry_Quine said:

A week to hear back what's happening is nothing at any time, especially just now. I think you just need to be patient for a bit longer. It does seem that your GP supports you and I really hope that you get the satisfactory outcome correct for the problem.

Thank you,

Looking back I think it's because I was being told "No procedure needed" right before xmas so I knew I wouldn't have anyone to discuss this with further until Jan so was left with a lot of questions.

I'm more than willing to wait however long it takes given the current world situation. I just wanted to know I had the ball rolling. 

Morrigan_2020

Ironkettleblack said:

I understand not everyone will know much about this issue so it can be convoluted about different testing methods etc especially as a faceless internet user speaking out against a medical professional but if you knew how many people deal with this incompetence for a misunderstood issue it'd be much clearer.

Depending on when they studied, the science for variocele's changed from "it's just achy balls!, no treatment needed" to "hold up, studies show this actually has an impact on bodily functions" Unfortunately, most get the former urologist. 

I'll let this thread rest and hopefully can get that 2nd opinion and update.

Medical professionals are required as part of the registration to keep their knowledge up to date, they don't just stop learning after they qualify.