Edward Ericson Jr.'s review a while back of Unaccountable by Dr. Marty Makary, asks honesty and humanity of hospitals and doctors. My experience was with a large local hospital where I had thyroid removal surgery last June. In the year lead-up to surgery appointments were difficult to make because of communication problems with entry-level hospital personnel.
Several procedures -- ultrasounds, Cat scans, MRIs -- were performed during this year. As Dr. Makary asks in Unaccountable, were the procedures always necessary, and were they needlessly expensive? Doctors showing lack of concern about costs to patients was a recurring theme for me.
Finally, in May, a surgical doctor met with me for a half-hour of light explaining. His order: Take the surgery or leave it. I took it but was uninformed that my urinary system might be (and was) knocked
out by drugs used during surgery. "Don't ask, don't piss" were the
military-like orders. Result: three-and-a-half months with a catheter.
And, the anesthesiologist, whose surgery drugs may have caused the
harm, collects one-seventh of my income for a year.
My discharge papers specified Flomax prescription to help urine flow.
Thus, I would uselessly take Flomax while catherized, at $110 for 30
pills.
My prolonged medical experience had its heroes and villains. The good
doctors I encountered were in communication with peers in other
departments (i.e., surgery with nuclear medicine). Sympathy to
patients, as Dr. Makary notes, is an important attribute.
I'm healthier now than in some time, although medical expenses have
pretty much emptied my cardboard wallet. Guess the cold months will be
spent reading Metro Times' complimentary review books.
Dennis Shea is Metro Times’ longtime proof reader.
We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.
Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.