Comments on: THE FOOL OR THE FOOL THAT FOLLOWS http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/ I am a paramedic who works for an organ procurement organization in the wilds of Kentucky. I am also a husband and a father. Occasionally I fancy myself to be a writer, hence the blog. You are welcome to witness this train wreck but the experience can be disorienting. Don't go swimming for at least thirty minutes. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:55:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sarah-Irritated barely qualified nurse http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 Sarah-Irritated barely qualified nurse Tue, 04 May 2010 00:02:50 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1580 What's your address so I can send you flowers. I am so sick of this stupidity. Well said. What’s your address so I can send you flowers.

I am so sick of this stupidity.

Well said.

]]> By: Steve http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1565 Steve Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:34:35 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1565 Well said! I suffer from chronic conditions, and have to walk a fine line between bothering medical staff and dealing with pain on my own. Luckily I've found doctors that allow me to work with them, and I control my own treatment for the most part (but still listen to their advice). I often hesitate to seek help due to fear of costs involved, but delaying treatment usually leads to higher costs in the long run. Crazy, eh? Well said! I suffer from chronic conditions, and have to walk a fine line between bothering medical staff and dealing with pain on my own. Luckily I’ve found doctors that allow me to work with them, and I control my own treatment for the most part (but still listen to their advice). I often hesitate to seek help due to fear of costs involved, but delaying treatment usually leads to higher costs in the long run. Crazy, eh?

]]> By: Aled http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1563 Aled Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:16:48 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1563 So I started to write a reply...but it got too long. So I posted it up as a new blog entry: http://www.thinknuts.net/2010/04/26/on-fools/ Thanks for making me think so hard first thing on a Monday morning! :) So I started to write a reply…but it got too long. So I posted it up as a new blog entry:

http://www.thinknuts.net/2010/04/26/on-fools/

Thanks for making me think so hard first thing on a Monday morning! :)

]]> By: On fools… | Hypoxic witterings http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 On fools… | Hypoxic witterings Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:15:21 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1562 [...] from a tweet by insomniacmedic, I was linked to a blog post by Buckman. He talks at length about the foolishness of some patients who refuse the care they so desperately [...] [...] from a tweet by insomniacmedic, I was linked to a blog post by Buckman. He talks at length about the foolishness of some patients who refuse the care they so desperately [...]

]]> By: Tweets that mention Gomerville » Blog Archive » THE FOOL OR THE FOOL THAT FOLLOWS -- Topsy.com http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1558 Tweets that mention Gomerville » Blog Archive » THE FOOL OR THE FOOL THAT FOLLOWS -- Topsy.com Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:55:31 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1558 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by InsomniacMedic. InsomniacMedic said: Must be a weekend for it. Another post to make you think: http://bit.ly/cjmBXF [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by InsomniacMedic. InsomniacMedic said: Must be a weekend for it. Another post to make you think: http://bit.ly/cjmBXF [...]

]]> By: Buckman http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Buckman Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:59:26 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1557 It is important to know that a system where this could happen would be abused. Of course it would. Just like EMS services that can refuse to transport patients that they believe are not sick enough to justify 911 (Dallas Fire is one example) will incur liability and lawsuits. It is not a perfect idea, but something has to happen to save the system. Example: pt has a wreck which causes an ER and ICU bill. The driver/patient was proved to be intoxicated with lab values in the ER. The patient was driving drunk. This should be billed in full to the patient. I could come up with several scenarios that would save billions of dollars and possibly curb some behaviors. As we move towards a social type of health care, we should do so with the idea that it should not be abused. It is important to know that a system where this could happen would be abused. Of course it would. Just like EMS services that can refuse to transport patients that they believe are not sick enough to justify 911 (Dallas Fire is one example) will incur liability and lawsuits. It is not a perfect idea, but something has to happen to save the system. Example: pt has a wreck which causes an ER and ICU bill. The driver/patient was proved to be intoxicated with lab values in the ER. The patient was driving drunk. This should be billed in full to the patient. I could come up with several scenarios that would save billions of dollars and possibly curb some behaviors. As we move towards a social type of health care, we should do so with the idea that it should not be abused.

]]> By: Katie http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1556 Katie Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:18:19 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1556 I have frequently held similar thoughts. Medicine is the most over-regulated business in the country and has the highest failure rate. And much of medicine's failure can be directly traced to patient non-compliance. I also think HIPPA and EMTALA should have provisions whereby it is illegal to abuse emergency services, be it EMS or the ED, and doing so would mean automatically being reported and ticketed. It's illegal to abuse 911, why shouldn't the EMS and ED be included? I have frequently held similar thoughts. Medicine is the most over-regulated business in the country and has the highest failure rate. And much of medicine’s failure can be directly traced to patient non-compliance. I also think HIPPA and EMTALA should have provisions whereby it is illegal to abuse emergency services, be it EMS or the ED, and doing so would mean automatically being reported and ticketed. It’s illegal to abuse 911, why shouldn’t the EMS and ED be included?

]]> By: hilinda http://gomerville.com/2010/04/24/the-fool-or-the-fool-that-follows/comment-page-1/#comment-1555 hilinda Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:53:31 +0000 http://gomerville.com/?p=850#comment-1555 Wow. A lot to think about. I am hesitant to mandate allopathic care, or specific treatments, the refusal of which would eliminate insurance coverage. There would need to be the possibility of a second opinion, or even an appeal system of sorts. But still. I get your point. Especially about it often being the family who ultimately suffers for some people's decisions, or lack thereof. I think you did your patient a favor by being honest and direct. Wow. A lot to think about.

I am hesitant to mandate allopathic care, or specific treatments, the refusal of which would eliminate insurance coverage. There would need to be the possibility of a second opinion, or even an appeal system of sorts.
But still. I get your point.

Especially about it often being the family who ultimately suffers for some people’s decisions, or lack thereof.

I think you did your patient a favor by being honest and direct.

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