At times I wonder if updates on certain issues relating to medical fields come a little too late.
Information on the various surgical procedures should be at the finger-tips of specialists or medical departments; whether or not the chosen procedure is suitable for their patients. The 'Keyhole-Surgery' is not new. Why is it that only until yesterday that such important information is released to the public? I believe way before this was publicize, hundreds or even thousands of patients (with different diagnosis) have undergone the keyhole-surgery. And I also believe that many who underwent this surgery does not even have the basic knowledge about the procedure and whether or not it is suitable for their then diagnosed condition.
Many of us are ignorant, when it comes to surgical procedures. We trust that doctors knows best. Hence most of the time, patients, as well as their immediate family members, leave it to their doctors to decide on which surgery is best for the patient. Some of us would have taken a step further to do our research on the proposed method before committing to any surgery, either for themselves or for their loved ones. But then again, if the doctors have recommended option 1, would one not think that the 'doctor knows best'?
Take for example, if an immediate family member has doubts on the Doctor's recommended procedure for their elderly parent, do you think it would be easy for the family member to convince their parent that 'perhaps another type of method is more appropriate for you'. Between a qualified doctor and one with no medical knowledge - whom would the elderly choose to believe in?
If articles on such medical-related were published soon after the emergence of such methods, wouldn't it have given many a rough idea and assist in their decision-making on the type of procedure suitable for them (when the time comes)?
I am saddened by the late publicity of the 'keyhole-surgery' article because 2 years back, my mom, diagnosed with 4th-stage colon cancer, with a lump (considered BIG), was recommended the key-hole surgery. I did seek 2nd opinion from another colon-specialist, and was advised that the normal open-up surgery was more appropriate (considering the lump size). I wasn't able to convince my mom because 'Doctor knows best', and furthermore she was assured of a faster recovery, plus lesser pain. As family-members, we also do not want her to go through too much pain either.
IF this article were published long time before, citing that key-hole surgery is not suitable for all condition and that patients with lumps considering 'big', should go for the norm procedure, things may have changed then. My mom would not have to go through FOUR surgeries within a short period of 6months, with the last one ending her life journey. Few days after her key-hole surgery, she came down with complications and had to undergo the norm 'open-up' procedure. IF the 'open-up' procedure was used from the very start, wouldn't she be spared of one surgery and spared from those one-after-another complications which set in concurrently.
Do I agree with 'Doctors knows best' - not anymore.
What I believe:
Every surgery, minor or major, stresses a patient's body and brings the patient's immunity to the lowest level, to a certain extent.
Perhaps 2 doctors should be allocated to patients requiring to undergo all major surgeries; at least the life of a patient does not lies in the hands of just ONE doctor.
Is it very necessary for a patient, diagnosed with cancer and a lump, to undergo the 'knife' OR is it just the norm???
Information on the various surgical procedures should be at the finger-tips of specialists or medical departments; whether or not the chosen procedure is suitable for their patients. The 'Keyhole-Surgery' is not new. Why is it that only until yesterday that such important information is released to the public? I believe way before this was publicize, hundreds or even thousands of patients (with different diagnosis) have undergone the keyhole-surgery. And I also believe that many who underwent this surgery does not even have the basic knowledge about the procedure and whether or not it is suitable for their then diagnosed condition.
Many of us are ignorant, when it comes to surgical procedures. We trust that doctors knows best. Hence most of the time, patients, as well as their immediate family members, leave it to their doctors to decide on which surgery is best for the patient. Some of us would have taken a step further to do our research on the proposed method before committing to any surgery, either for themselves or for their loved ones. But then again, if the doctors have recommended option 1, would one not think that the 'doctor knows best'?
Take for example, if an immediate family member has doubts on the Doctor's recommended procedure for their elderly parent, do you think it would be easy for the family member to convince their parent that 'perhaps another type of method is more appropriate for you'. Between a qualified doctor and one with no medical knowledge - whom would the elderly choose to believe in?
If articles on such medical-related were published soon after the emergence of such methods, wouldn't it have given many a rough idea and assist in their decision-making on the type of procedure suitable for them (when the time comes)?
I am saddened by the late publicity of the 'keyhole-surgery' article because 2 years back, my mom, diagnosed with 4th-stage colon cancer, with a lump (considered BIG), was recommended the key-hole surgery. I did seek 2nd opinion from another colon-specialist, and was advised that the normal open-up surgery was more appropriate (considering the lump size). I wasn't able to convince my mom because 'Doctor knows best', and furthermore she was assured of a faster recovery, plus lesser pain. As family-members, we also do not want her to go through too much pain either.
IF this article were published long time before, citing that key-hole surgery is not suitable for all condition and that patients with lumps considering 'big', should go for the norm procedure, things may have changed then. My mom would not have to go through FOUR surgeries within a short period of 6months, with the last one ending her life journey. Few days after her key-hole surgery, she came down with complications and had to undergo the norm 'open-up' procedure. IF the 'open-up' procedure was used from the very start, wouldn't she be spared of one surgery and spared from those one-after-another complications which set in concurrently.
Do I agree with 'Doctors knows best' - not anymore.
What I believe:
Every surgery, minor or major, stresses a patient's body and brings the patient's immunity to the lowest level, to a certain extent.
Perhaps 2 doctors should be allocated to patients requiring to undergo all major surgeries; at least the life of a patient does not lies in the hands of just ONE doctor.
Is it very necessary for a patient, diagnosed with cancer and a lump, to undergo the 'knife' OR is it just the norm???
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