> So sorry to swear, but this sort of c**p is becoming a recurrent
> theme. Hell, why go to medical school and do all that training when you can
> make risk assessments on clinical issues by learning how to take X-rays?
> I tried to have a sensible discussion with our local radiologists (who
> weren't really interested) and radiographers (who didn't seem to
> understand).
> I now give all such patients full details on the complaints process.
I saw a baby who had swallowed a coin a few years ago in Sick Kids Glasgow.
The parents were very worried about the effects of an xray, but they agreed
to the xray after I reassured them that we only take a chest xray down to
the level of the stomach to exclude a retained coin in the oesophagus or
bronchial tree.
Imagine my surprise when I got a total body xray, no gonadal shielding, and
including a nice set of parental hands.
Apparently my explicitly worded request (with plenty of asterisks and
capital letters) was over-riden because it was not unit policy.
My subsequent 20 minute drubbing of the radiographer with my patented 'ME
DOCTOR, YOU BUTTON PUSHER' speech, drew quite a crowd of delighted SHOs.
However the radiologists kicked my complaint to touch.
I gave the parents the address of the complaints officer.
(Reminds me of my House Office days in the Vale of Leven when we use to
write 'JFDI' on the corner of all our xray requests - 'Just F***ing Do It'.)
Robbie Coull
email: [log in to unmask] website: http://www.coull.net
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