Comments on: Rangel on whether physicians learn too much basic science

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 09 May 2006 12:34:00 +0000

As a doctor who has participated in the training of final-semester APRN students I can tell you that it’s not just basic science getting the shaft. These women came to me with little or no training in orthopedics or dermatology. They knew not one joint exam and could not recognize any but the most rudimentary rashes (poison ivy).

And calculus needs to continue to be a pre-req for medicine. Pharmacodynamics is an essential field and calculus is necessary to understanding it. Also, it reflects that a potential med student is capable of the type of logical thought necessary to succeed in med school.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 21:37:00 +0000

Elliott’s comment is an example of “truthiness”.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Mon, 08 May 2006 19:19:00 +0000

Yep, tPA is a great example. PSA screening is another and let’s not forget your insistence that lawsuits and malpractice premiums are killing medicine in the US. Another innumerate idea that physicians hold dearly is that standards don’t work and that they should be allowed free range of their egos in treating patients. How about the idea that the US has the best healthcare in the world? Then there was the statement that Texas maplractice legislation increased the number of physicians practicing when the absolute and relative numbers showed exactly the opposite (two years pre-passage vs. two years post-passage). I won’t even address your wierd victim cult where many of you think you’re so abused even though you sit at the top of the pyramid.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 14:55:00 +0000

Isn’t that what ND’s do?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 04:10:00 +0000

“You guys are morons if you’re defending teaching basic science and calculus”

You are right, we should just shake a bag of bones or shuffle some tarot cards to help decide a diagnosis and treatment and be completely oblivious to any of the basic science behind it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 02:58:00 +0000

I also know that ‘i’ is the square root of -1. That is probably the most useless piece of information I have ever learned. How is that of any use to a doctor? You guys are morons if you’re defending teaching basic science and calculus, differential equations, and what not…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 02:23:00 +0000

In addition to 3 semesters of calculus and stastitics, I took differential equations in college. I got an A in every class. My major was liberal arts (4 years).

Compared to most doctors I know, (at least from my experience in med school and residency) I am not one of the smart ones. (or probably even in the top third)

Eliot, I think you'll find most doctors have a more than satisfactory understand of statistics and mathematics. To question the mathematical ability of people who are able to get into medicals school is like questioning the athleticism of people in professoinal sports. You have no idea what you are talking about.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 May 2006 00:10:00 +0000

Elliot, you mean unlike you in which you have displayed your ignorance on TPA in stroke, among other topics.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sun, 07 May 2006 23:07:00 +0000

I’d like to see doctors who knew more about basic math, especially statistics, since they cannot adequately interpret research, test results, or financial information in many cases

By: WilliamManginoMD

WilliamManginoMD — Sun, 07 May 2006 22:31:00 +0000

Now that I've tried to inject a little humor into this report - I would like to follow my own posting with a serious note.

Speaking as an anesthesiologist, pain specialist, I would sincerely like to say that Australia, South Africa and The UK have produced some of the most outstanding anesthesia attendings I have ever had the privilege, and honor to learn from and work with.

I would very seriously doubt that the same educational systems that produced these absolutely great doctors - leaders in the field - could allow a decay in their learning centers reflective of the accusations documented in this report.

I, for one, studied the basic sciences as though my life depended on learning and memorizing everything in sight - anatomy included. While I have forgotten much of the minutiae - I do recall the portions germane to my specialty; and continue to be bombarded by those aspects repeated, time and again, in journal articles and review courses. I'm sure this is similar to all of your experiences.

I don't know what to make of this report - how true it is - and what it means with regard to Australian education, in general.

I doubt that Australia is turning out poorly educated doctors.

Their anesthesiologists are superbly trained.