"doctor" means teacher

[miriam_e]

I just looked online for some information for a friend who had a brain scan in an attempt to find an explanation for her terrible headaches. Apparently she has a lesion in her right basal ganglia. Now that area is a fairly large and complex part of the brain so it could have many possible effects. I was trying to learn more about it and found a site called Medcyclopedia. It had some tiny thumbnail images that looked like they might be of use, but unfortunately I would have to register in order to view the full-size images. I always find this compulsory narrowing of audience annoying, but annoyance turned to disgust when I found that in order to register I had to "prove" I was a professional by clicking the aortic lumen in the image presented, only to find that the page was so incompetently designed that it didn't work on any web browser other than Microsoft's awful and dangerous InternetExplorer, which fewer and fewer people use these days.

What is with medical groups that they are so loathe to disseminate information to the public at large? Don't they know that the word "doctor" originally meant "teacher"? Everywhere around the world there is a shortage of medical doctors. And the doctors themselves generally would like to be able to spend more time with their patients and less time on trivial things. They also bemoan the rise of nutty strains of "alternative" medicine, such as chiropracty or homeopathy, but they seem utterly opposed to disseminating the very knowledge which would drive back such superstitious beliefs.

Sometimes I think the medical profession is its own worst enemy.

Comments

[hestia.livejournal.com]

Doctors make up one of the most powerful sections of society. They're not going to give away any of that power (knowledge) without making you jump through hoops of fire first.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Certainly true of the profession as a whole, but I've known a number of doctors who are very invested in passing on as much knowledge to their patient as possible. Of course they might not be quite as open to discussion with other patients as they have been with me; I quickly establish that I know a fair bit about the subject beforehand (general science reading and focussed research in my books and thru the net on the particular topic) and ask them as many questions as I can.

My current doctor is superb. He seems to consider each ailment as an intriguing puzzle. He is concerned not only with relief, but prevention and lifestyle. When I had a small fungal infection he initially suggested a range of pharmaceutical treatments. I didn't like the idea of using any of them and wanted something cheaper and less intrusive. He then came up with teatree oil. Brilliant idea. No script necessary and I can use it as often or as little as need be, and while still not cheap, I think I get more bang for my buck. Also I think the teatree oil is less likely to backfire.

[hestia.livejournal.com]

That's great. Wish I could find a doctor like that.