Comments on: Is moral distress preventing doctors and nurses from providing good patient care? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors.html#comment-89740 Anonymous Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors-and-nurses-from-providing-good-patient-care.html#comment-89740 The problem is that having M.D. after ones name does not reliably communicate to all that one is some sort of demigod who would never allow personal self-interest and the addictive powers of O.P.M. seduce him or her into abrogating their responsibility to allow the patient's best interest to be the sole criterium of what services are provided or offered. Nor does having the label of "patient" relieve the rest of humanity from the moral hazard of insufficient attention to the value of services when paid by Other Peoples Money rather than their own labors.<br/><br/>As a physician, I resent having to deal with managed care. With shame, I must say that I have repeated observed behaviors among my colleagues that make it necessary. I must also confess, even while resenting it, that it is at least to some degree childish narcissism to feel entitled to sit with someone and conspire to spend someone elses money without them having a say. The problem is that having M.D. after ones name does not reliably communicate to all that one is some sort of demigod who would never allow personal self-interest and the addictive powers of O.P.M. seduce him or her into abrogating their responsibility to allow the patient’s best interest to be the sole criterium of what services are provided or offered. Nor does having the label of “patient” relieve the rest of humanity from the moral hazard of insufficient attention to the value of services when paid by Other Peoples Money rather than their own labors.

As a physician, I resent having to deal with managed care. With shame, I must say that I have repeated observed behaviors among my colleagues that make it necessary. I must also confess, even while resenting it, that it is at least to some degree childish narcissism to feel entitled to sit with someone and conspire to spend someone elses money without them having a say.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Johnsonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors.html#comment-89733 Dr. Mary Johnson Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:22:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors-and-nurses-from-providing-good-patient-care.html#comment-89733 Trying being pulled out of a deep sleep to choose between a baby's life and your career in your own hometown.<br/><br/>I chose the patient.<br/><br/>The rest is history. And nobody but nobody gives a crap. Trying being pulled out of a deep sleep to choose between a baby’s life and your career in your own hometown.

I chose the patient.

The rest is history. And nobody but nobody gives a crap.

]]> By: Dr. IKEhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors.html#comment-89727 Dr. IKE Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/02/is-moral-distress-preventing-doctors-and-nurses-from-providing-good-patient-care.html#comment-89727 Great quote. Was just thinking along those lines myself. Why is it someone behind a desk thinks they can tell what a patient needs better than the person in the room? Great quote. Was just thinking along those lines myself. Why is it someone behind a desk thinks they can tell what a patient needs better than the person in the room?

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