tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post3497737126395858379..comments2024-03-29T08:00:59.399-04:00Comments on the underwear drawer: psychology todayMichelle Auhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04938937923678734252noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-36037474032996297022011-06-08T20:35:54.828-04:002011-06-08T20:35:54.828-04:00http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Arbitrator+qua...http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Arbitrator+quashes+medical+residents+hour+shifts/4909714/story.html <br /><br />Heard about this on CBC and immediately thought of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-56832626357994396382011-06-06T23:24:48.068-04:002011-06-06T23:24:48.068-04:00Dr. Au - I love your blog and I love this piece. ...Dr. Au - I love your blog and I love this piece. Wonderfully balanced. <br /><br />I think the way Drs are portrayed in the media is a total caricature. Its as unrelated to my experience as Gray's anatomy and Scrubs. I don't understand where Nurse Brown from the NYTimes works. Her tales from the ward seem to me to represent nursing/medical team work from the days of the 100 hour work week (by which I mean its from an era known as Ancient History where cell phones and computers didn't exist). <br /><br />ONCE in a great while I have a patient who is a pain in the ass and has the "I hate doctors and don't trust you by definition" attitude. But this is rare. And I'm a resident in San Francisco! My experience (both as a resident and in the land of alternative medicine) should represent a gross OVERSTATEMENT of doctor/patient clash. <br /><br />Anyhow, its nice to hear a voice of reason. Thank you.BossMDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-88083627197884265082011-06-06T10:32:39.164-04:002011-06-06T10:32:39.164-04:00Hi Michelle, perhaps you can talk about being on t...Hi Michelle, perhaps you can talk about being on the other side of the interaction...a doctor being hospitalized for illness. Your insight and feeling as a patient, judging the medical establishment from the other side.doctor momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-80941376905599919182011-06-05T11:36:23.484-04:002011-06-05T11:36:23.484-04:00What about a "Day in the Life" piece? Ob...What about a "Day in the Life" piece? Obviously you'd have to change patient characteristics, but it could make for an interesting and fun read, especially for those who have little background in anesthesiology and/or the doctoring lifestyle. <br /><br />Plus, focusing on aspects like finding time for your family, navigating difficult personalities, bureaucracy, etc. would resonate with anyone who has ever held a job, medical or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-41418986830934947542011-06-05T00:11:04.543-04:002011-06-05T00:11:04.543-04:00I'm the "A Canadian Family Doc" comm...I'm the "A Canadian Family Doc" commenter on the Psychology Today article. If you're still looking for topic suggestions, I'd suggest more pieces to educate the non-medical readers about our stressors, and at the same time to educate the medical readers about how to cope with the stressors. <br /><br />I don't blame people who are bitter about doctors with their 6-figure incomes, if they perceive that doctors work the same hours that they do. My own colleagues who are in specialty residencies wonder what I do with all my free time now... and are surprised to learn that after my clinical hours, I spend hours every night doing paperwork. Hopefully with more information, people's perceptions will change and there will be less resentment. <br /><br />- Another (Canadian) MichelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-40544902303532253392011-06-04T22:27:03.417-04:002011-06-04T22:27:03.417-04:00To Moplans: You might not but other people do. I r...To Moplans: You might not but other people do. I remember how surprised I was one day when I looked up a dose on a medication I was prescribing to someone because it's not one I prescribe often. The person muttered something about "you'd think you'd just know it by now" and seemed a little upset they were seeing a doc who couldn't remember. Yes, I remember the dosages of probably the top 200 drugs I prescribe. But is it not enough that I know what ails you and the appropriate therapy? Especially given that dosing can be different in different scenarios?<br /><br />Some people really do think that doctor's should know everything about everything, but the most important trait for a doc to have is actually to know what you need to look up!Amanda Goertzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730135718558332288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-43970584724606960442011-06-04T22:26:36.872-04:002011-06-04T22:26:36.872-04:00Ooh, I love Psychology Today! I recently started g...Ooh, I love Psychology Today! I recently started getting the back issues from the library and have been reading them nonstop.<br /><br />OK, now that I have shared that, I will go read your column.CMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01559451322234777335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-12717151800549902832011-06-04T20:40:17.066-04:002011-06-04T20:40:17.066-04:00I'm not sure about the 'work-life balance ...I'm not sure about the 'work-life balance applicable to all other professionals' everyone seems to be having a hard time with this. I just get bitter at my doctors because I know they are making much more than I am but seem not too far off from the work-life balance I have<br /><br />also the idea that "We want our doctors to be perfect. We want them to know all the answers, to never say the wrong thing, and above all, to always, always, be there for us. We want our doctors to be superhuman. " is something I see doctors getting upset about a lot. It seems more about your own perceptions than ours. I don't expect anyone to be perfect.moplanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16998309937928231527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-31399122770369223452011-06-04T13:53:40.845-04:002011-06-04T13:53:40.845-04:00In your book, you wrote how your mom only had 3 we...In your book, you wrote how your mom only had 3 weeks of leave and you had 6 weeks with Cal. Perhaps, something about the changes in maternity leave policies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-20216822494122506002011-06-04T09:03:14.409-04:002011-06-04T09:03:14.409-04:00what's the matter with people who drive a lexu...what's the matter with people who drive a lexus? are you not supposed to, even if you can afford it? does it imply you don't care about people? are people who drive corolla's inherently better than lexus drivers?<br /><br />i can see the disconnect if you are complaining about your income and driving a luxury car, but complaining about someone else's income and commenting about the cars they drive is a neverending exercise in frustration and poor manners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-26134992409178841752011-06-03T14:15:13.491-04:002011-06-03T14:15:13.491-04:00I just stumbled on your blog for the first time to...I just stumbled on your blog for the first time today. Somehow I thought I was the only woman who's a mom and a doctor (ok, soon to be doctor). The one trend I've noticed amongst many moms, as well as my family and friends, is that for some reason people just don't trust their doctor. They always think that the doctor is wrong about things, particularly when their doctor tells them they or their children are ok and don't need all these tests or medications. <br />I'm all for being an educated, "empowered" patient, but when you're trusting Webmd over your own phsycian, there's a problem. It's almost as if people are looking for the worst and never satisfied when we say "You're OK!". Just my two cents...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12188364310947763785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-55798299357505004302011-06-03T00:05:28.881-04:002011-06-03T00:05:28.881-04:00i, too, was surprised at the reception of your art...i, too, was surprised at the reception of your article. i did not realize there was so much negative feelings towards physicians, that, unfortunately, are driven by misconceptions and generalizations.<br /><br />if you find the time and inclination, a post on gender differences in the medical profession is something i would like to read. why are women doctors still underpaid compared to their male counterparts? and considering that we are the more emotional beings, why is the suicide rate higher among us? why can't there be paid maternity leave? :)<br /><br />i am a mom and a doctor ... there are so many of us trying to balance these two equally challenging and wonderful roles. thank you for being our voice.TinChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668273289100266930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-15121148162103902542011-06-02T20:56:43.499-04:002011-06-02T20:56:43.499-04:00My husband just finished residency and I'm int...My husband just finished residency and I'm interested in hearing more about how to keep romantic relationships going if one or both of you are doctors. We have such a hard time since he is always so tired (even as an attending) and it seems hard for him to be emotionally available...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-65011721550770737812011-06-02T18:21:33.508-04:002011-06-02T18:21:33.508-04:00I know my patients get crappy care when I'm ex...I know my patients get crappy care when I'm exhausted, starving, and haven't had time to use the bathroom for the past 8 hours. It's really hard to focus on taking care of other peoples' medical problems when your own basic needs are not met. I'm still in residency, but I see how hard the attendings still work. I know things have improved somewhat in terms of work hours and expectations surrounding work hours, but medicine still seems like a losing game most days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-778841940914901312011-06-02T12:52:20.592-04:002011-06-02T12:52:20.592-04:00@Anonymous above: Yup, paid back my maternity leav...@Anonymous above: Yup, paid back my maternity leave with vacation time. I think that's pretty standard.<br /><br />Great topics all, and thanks to everyone for emailing and Twittering and sharing the link to the Psychology Today piece on Facebook, etc. Excited to write my second post!Michelle Auhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04938937923678734252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-75762882364253785672011-06-02T08:41:08.192-04:002011-06-02T08:41:08.192-04:00Hi Michelle I am reading your book, did you have t...Hi Michelle I am reading your book, did you have to make up time for Cal's maternity leave?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-51801014969128589472011-06-02T04:51:49.171-04:002011-06-02T04:51:49.171-04:00Bullying. Not pimping med students, but the kind o...Bullying. Not pimping med students, but the kind of bullying that goes down the food chain and has a detrimental effect, not only on the medical and nursing staff, but also on the patient. In fact, bullying patients is also a good topic. Not seen so much in gas passers, I admit.<br /><br />The Us vs Them mentality - how we get it, what we do with it, how it affects us as persons and the care we give our patients.<br /><br />And given that it is PT, how about a piece on our own inner processes when confronted with cultural issues that have a negative impact on care.<br /><br />Oh, I could go on and on...<br /><br />(Read your book in two evenings, and enjoyed it. I'm trying to get a decent picture of it in front of an arrow slit in the ancient wall surrounding Old Jerusalem, but I'm having trouble with the angle and lighting.)Knot Tellinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14045891496501248669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-60693199986031607712011-06-02T03:55:29.720-04:002011-06-02T03:55:29.720-04:00I'm an intern whose home off sick today becaus...I'm an intern whose home off sick today because I injured myself sprinting up the stairs at work and woke up the next day unable to move. The It Gets Better post has held me through many nights and I've just bought your book. Here I am in this profession that apparently is a privilege to work in and there's this expectation that I should do NOTHING for myself because everything I live and breathe should be for my patients.<br /><br />Doesn't *anyone* understand that if *I'm* good, then patients will be a million times better because they'll get far better care from a happy doctor than someone who is burned out and overworked and just barely keeping it together?<br /><br />I'm so sick of being told about this 'privilege'. It feels like it's just a lie perpetuated to squeeze every last piece of labour out of me.Miss-G-noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-18252527703762437872011-06-02T03:43:55.128-04:002011-06-02T03:43:55.128-04:00Your "It Gets Better" blog entry spoke v...Your "It Gets Better" blog entry spoke volumes to me. Depression and burn out amongst trainee doctors is an issue that goes unacknowledged all too often - I'd love to see you get it out into the public arena a bit more.jane doenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-69846745179462662011-06-02T01:51:18.664-04:002011-06-02T01:51:18.664-04:00This is totally unprofessional but if I ever meet ...This is totally unprofessional but if I ever meet any of those meanies on the PT comments section the shoes and earrings and stethoscope are coming off!!!<br /><br />Agree with prev Anonymous: Hoda and Kathie Lee and drinks at 10 am. Wheee!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-4832135958830446602011-06-02T00:49:55.763-04:002011-06-02T00:49:55.763-04:00I finished reading your book last month, and am su...I finished reading your book last month, and am sure it's not going to be the last time I'll read it. It'll be a book I'll prob read at every new stage of my medical training. Btw, have you ever thought about going on the Today show or something similar to promote your book and maybe talk about this topic about work-life balance? (There are other good morning shows too, but I just happen to be a big fan of the Today show)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-85030674400218946092011-06-02T00:40:44.342-04:002011-06-02T00:40:44.342-04:00I agree with the potential topics raised so far: m...I agree with the potential topics raised so far: many angles you can take with doctor as patient, nurses bullying young doctor trainees, patients able to trash you anonymously on the internet, why some specialties are just mean, health care system: the unsustainability of the canadian vs. the many short comings of the american.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-59534448999694507602011-06-01T23:43:51.959-04:002011-06-01T23:43:51.959-04:00I wish my heart was made of cash registers...it wo...I wish my heart was made of cash registers...it would really help knock off some of those student loans =/ <br /><br />I hate generalized antipathy the most. It comes across as a purely petty grudge that probably stemmed from a bad experience years ago that they were too cowardly to address. Those kinds of people are always passing judgement and trying to make examples of an individual who only expressed a harmless wish or sentiment. It's irrational, unnecessary and utterly counterproductive. The rant on bullying was totally unwarranted, unrelated to the topic and utterly misguided. While bullying can and does occur in hospitals, there's plenty of bullying going around in all professions as well. Bullying isn't one-sided either. As one commenter pointed out: there are plenty of cases where RNs bully doctors, or younger RNs, or med students. <br /><br />I wish people were more rational and less hateful.Minglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07708626178634518410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-35863698758305422692011-06-01T23:32:44.409-04:002011-06-01T23:32:44.409-04:00Hi, just wanted to say I appreciate you starting t...Hi, just wanted to say I appreciate you starting the dialogue. I have to say, I agree with both sides - I have met doctors who are quite possibly some of the most arrogant people on earth, and others who are genuinely helpful and pleasant to talk to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779260.post-11708098720552506292011-06-01T23:26:35.803-04:002011-06-01T23:26:35.803-04:00PS just ordered your book! Wee!PS just ordered your book! Wee!putnam2800https://www.blogger.com/profile/12085249741566176350noreply@blogger.com