AnnLanders.com, Advice by Ann Landers - []
Our Featured Column from the Archives: [Read More Featured Columns]
[Previous] [Next]
Section:
 
 

Dear Ann Landers,
resent your sarcastic reply to Cali-fornia Yell For Help, the woman who lashed out at the surgeon who removed her friend's healthy breast. According to you, it simply could not have happened. You said all sur-geons must do a biopsy first and that no reputable physician would perform such an operation unless the biopsy showed a malignancy. You as much as called the woman a liar. May I direct your attention to the word "reputable." I would not argue the point that the majority of physicians are reasonably honest, some are highly principled, and a few are totally dedicated, but that still leaves a number of knife-hungry scoundrels, not to mention chronic alcoholics who bury their mistakes and no one is any the wiser. So please, Ann Landers, don't try to give the public the impression that every physician who hangs out a shingle is incapable of error. Tell it like it is.-Calling Dr. Kildare

Dear Calling,
There are incompetents, phonies, and bad actors in every field, and the medical profession is no excep-tion. Unfortunately when a physician is unscrupulous or botches a job, someone becomes severely ill or dies. I know of no profession, however, that does such a conscientious job of policing its own members. Peer approval among physicians is of utmost importance. Medical organizations, county, state, and national, are persistent and diligent in their fight against charlatans and quacks. Medical standards are constantly being elevated by medical audit committees in the nation's hos-pitals. Additional safeguards are provided by tightening the requirements for hospital certification involving total patient care. When one considers that before the Abraham Flexner Report in 1910, "doctors" in some states were permitted to practice medicine by virtue of a certificate purchased for as little as five dollars, I say the medical profession has made enormous strides. All professions should do as well.



Share this Column with Friends




What do you think?
Comments:

A Note from Margo:
Hi! It's Margo here. I'd love to know what you think of the letters -- and the answers!

Also, any additional thoughts you might have. Thanks!
 
Please share your comments below:








Our Reader to Reader Question of the Week:


Dear Readers,
, whatever they needed I provided. What really hurt my son and I the most was the obituary - we were not mentioned at all. Our friends (mine and hers) were appalled. I was embarrassed and upset for not just me, but for my son-who loved her also. I never been so upset. Her x-husband put his wife and kids and their grandchildren in the obituary, who my girlfriend barely knew. They live an hour away from us. I know its silly to be mad over a little section of the newspaper, but it still hurts. Will time let this devastating loss of her and this article ever go away? I am so angry at this whole situation, its not like we can go and rewrite an obituary notice.

Tell us what you think?

Popular Columns

Tag Cloud


Ask a Question
or
Post a Comment

"Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other."
-Ann Landers