Comments on: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60650 Anonymous Sun, 19 Mar 2006 22:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60650 I recently had a housekeeping woman in the hospital come up to me and ask for a prescription for her daughter's sore throat. This isn't even someone I know. What ever happened to manners in this country?? I recently had a housekeeping woman in the hospital come up to me and ask for a prescription for her daughter’s sore throat. This isn’t even someone I know. What ever happened to manners in this country??

]]> By: jerryhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60639 jerry Sun, 19 Mar 2006 06:40:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60639 I work for a large democratic partnership ER group. Collectively our group has had two lawsuits where a nurse or other hospital worker wanted a free medical consult on the side for themselves or for a loved one. We used to be helpful to co-workers at a matter of courtesy. Now if you want a doc to look at a throat, look in a ear, look at a urine dip you will need to sign into the ER like everyone else, generate a chart, get naked and into a gown and pay your ER visit co-pay. I work for a large democratic partnership ER group. Collectively our group has had two lawsuits where a nurse or other hospital worker wanted a free medical consult on the side for themselves or for a loved one. We used to be helpful to co-workers at a matter of courtesy. Now if you want a doc to look at a throat, look in a ear, look at a urine dip you will need to sign into the ER like everyone else, generate a chart, get naked and into a gown and pay your ER visit co-pay.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60623 Anonymous Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:52:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60623 I give out only normal lab/test results over the phone. Any finding which requires action other than notification means an office visit for a face to face discussion. No exceptions. I give out only normal lab/test results over the phone. Any finding which requires action other than notification means an office visit for a face to face discussion. No exceptions.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60622 Anonymous Sat, 18 Mar 2006 21:42:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60622 "but how many primary care docs do the same-eg dx a uti over phone and call in abx."<br/><br/>As more Primary cares get sued for this practice, it'll happen less and less. PCPs should refer every phone call to the ER (ah the job security for us ER Docs) “but how many primary care docs do the same-eg dx a uti over phone and call in abx.”

As more Primary cares get sued for this practice, it’ll happen less and less. PCPs should refer every phone call to the ER (ah the job security for us ER Docs)

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60617 Anonymous Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:34:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60617 By definition the dr is in violation of med board regulations (prescribing without documentation or a pe)...but how many primary care docs do the same-eg dx a uti over phone and call in abx.<br/><br/>Question about "To make matters worse, he prescribed Nitrostat, which the literature warns against prescribing for a diabetic"??? By definition the dr is in violation of med board regulations (prescribing without documentation or a pe)…but how many primary care docs do the same-eg dx a uti over phone and call in abx.

Question about “To make matters worse, he prescribed Nitrostat, which the literature warns against prescribing for a diabetic”???

]]> By: Dan R.http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60605 Dan R. Sat, 18 Mar 2006 07:45:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60605 There's another reason for this... concentration.<br/><br/>When you see someone in the office, you have your "doctor" hat on. The hx and ros and exam is complete, you have prior tests to refer to, and your thinking about that patient.<br/><br/>When seeing someone "on the cuff" you are more likely to skip a portion of your normal office visit routine -- thus leading to poorer outcomes. There’s another reason for this… concentration.

When you see someone in the office, you have your “doctor” hat on. The hx and ros and exam is complete, you have prior tests to refer to, and your thinking about that patient.

When seeing someone “on the cuff” you are more likely to skip a portion of your normal office visit routine — thus leading to poorer outcomes.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60601 Anonymous Sat, 18 Mar 2006 03:05:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60601 So much for the old saw about how patients are unlikely to sue you if you maintain good relations with them. The doctor here had been this patient's doctor for 20 years. So much for the old saw about how patients are unlikely to sue you if you maintain good relations with them. The doctor here had been this patient’s doctor for 20 years.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60596 Anonymous Sat, 18 Mar 2006 00:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60596 Even when you are in the office, you could potentially get screwed by a scenario like this...<br/><br/>a lot of cardiologists and other docs write in the note "NTG SL rx given to patient and patient advised to call 911 if symptoms increase or worsen) until they can get to the outpatient stress test. This doctor didn't have the chance because he wasn't in the office. This could have happened to any of us...although with a diabetic I probably would have sent him to the ER...at least from now on I will! Even when you are in the office, you could potentially get screwed by a scenario like this…

a lot of cardiologists and other docs write in the note “NTG SL rx given to patient and patient advised to call 911 if symptoms increase or worsen) until they can get to the outpatient stress test. This doctor didn’t have the chance because he wasn’t in the office. This could have happened to any of us…although with a diabetic I probably would have sent him to the ER…at least from now on I will!

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60592 Anonymous Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:17:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60592 It's true that we don't know what happened in this case...but I tend to believe it is close to what is written...<br/>I have people ask me for medical advice all the time outside when I am walking to go home in my building; I have had people come up to me when I am literally walking out and locking the office door asking me to evaluate some condition. I for the most part refuse. A number people think I am an a-hole because of that, but I don't care. They may not come back, I don't care. Notice I said for the most part. I think all of us are guilty of giving "free advice" to friends and the like on occasion. After reading this I am re-evaluating whether that will ever happen again except family or very close friends... It’s true that we don’t know what happened in this case…but I tend to believe it is close to what is written…
I have people ask me for medical advice all the time outside when I am walking to go home in my building; I have had people come up to me when I am literally walking out and locking the office door asking me to evaluate some condition. I for the most part refuse. A number people think I am an a-hole because of that, but I don’t care. They may not come back, I don’t care. Notice I said for the most part. I think all of us are guilty of giving “free advice” to friends and the like on occasion. After reading this I am re-evaluating whether that will ever happen again except family or very close friends…

]]> By: SarahWhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/never-give-medical-advice-outside-of.html#comment-60591 SarahW Fri, 17 Mar 2006 19:53:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20226.html#comment-60591 Heh. And the patient might even still be alive. Heh. And the patient might even still be alive.

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