Posted by kylenn on August 5, 2006, at 21:29:36 [reposted on August 8, 2006, at 10:06:55 | original URL]
In reply to Re: cost of drugs » Meri-Tuuli, posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2006, at 20:13:07
I would not place myself in a position to judge others if I felt that I was not competent to do so. I realize, as I did point out, that there are those who are truly disabled. I pointed out that there are those who truly do need, and at times, deserve, the help of others (through no fault or choice of their own.)
But an intelligent woman who has an RN degree, cannot claim 100% disability, in my JUDGEMENT, just because she is forgetful and cannot lift heavy objects.
It takes no memory at all to live in the moment.
If you can read and write, and if you have an education with any memory of what you have learned (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, alphabetizing, grammar, spelling, and obviously, the ability to type, as well as the ability to respond to a point of view), then you could be say, a medical editor.
You could be a medical transcriptionist. You could use your intelligence and your training to help patients by auditing charts for medicare, attorneys, or heck, even hospitals and doctors.
You could be a triage nurse for an answering service. You could teach. (in the classroom there are no patients, only students that could benefit from your experience, wisdom and knowledge, and you would not have to lift anything heavier than a textbook.)
And these are all just off the top of my head.
I did not need an attorney; I had unsolicited advice from an attorney friend.
I would also not jeapardize patients by practicing with suboptimal concentration and memory skills. I am detail-oriented to the point of annoying some. And believe me, the State Medical Board made me PROVE that I was competent.
Not many people have to prove that to 10 or 12 people who's JOB is to judge not only capability, but whether or not a person should be allowed the PRIVELEDGE to practice medicine.
I am proud to be able to be involved in the care of patients in need. I am energized by helping others who are less healthy and/or less fortunate.
It invigorates me, and I would hate to have to give up medicine forever.
I, too, by the way, have treatment resistant depression.
I have "double depression" which really means I have dysthymic disorder with occasional bouts of major depression.
The major depression really is, for me, controlled by the medicine, but the dysthymia is my baseline.
I can still concentrate, learn, make decisions, be compassionate, etc, I am just never what I would consider completely happy and worry free.
I have been this way as far back as I can remember. It is probably one of the reasons I am a physician. I think a alot. I identify with sadness and fear. I have known how it feels to have lost hope.
Like I said, there are some unfortunate souls, but in my judgement very few, who are truly unable to do work of any kind. Perhaps they were not blessed with intelligence to begin with, so reading, writing and math are out.
Perhaps they also happen to have PTSD and the slightest stimulation sends them into a psychotic panic state.
Perhaps they have paranoid schizophrenia that is so brittle, they are not safe to be in society.
Perhaps they have had a stroke and can no longer understand language, and have been left paralyzed.
There are some people who, but for an unasked for and genuine illness, would be good and productive citizens. These are the folks that I mentioned when I talked about the folks that would have endeared themselves to their community.
Perhaps you are in that group.
I don't have the full picture.
But, I have seen with my own eyes, way, way too many situations in which that is most definitely NOT the case. Certainly, as a previously practicing health professional, you have seen these things as well.
So, yes, as long as I have a head on my shoulders, I do not care how "politically incorrect" it is. Society is not always right.
I am going to stand my ground and say that I am a person of reasonable intelligence and common sense, and I have been around the block a few times, and when something stinks, I will not pretend that it is a rose.
poster:kylenn
thread:674781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060610/msgs/674784.html