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From: brian@sequent.UUCP (Brian Godfrey)
Newsgroups: alt.sex,sci.psychology,sci.med,sci.bio,soc.singles
Subject: Re: Curbside Diagnoses?
Message-ID: <21586@sequent.UUCP>
Date: 13 Sep 89 01:20:53 GMT
Reply-To: brian@crg1.UUCP (Brian Godfrey)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
Lines: 24

>But what about the in-between?  Specifically, is a physician obligated to
>tell someone if, upon casual observation, (s)he thinks (s)he spots a
>potentially abnormal physical finding.  Skin lesions and hormonal
>
>Most of the doctors surveyed in the article seemed to believe that it was
>better to say nothing.  So maybe with more experience, I might decide not
>follow up on my observations, as well.  By the way, I don't know if any

   It used to be that doctors were doctors because they were concerned about
the health and well-being of their fellow human beings. It would seem that
such is no longer the case. I suspect that any doctor who exhibited concern
unasked-for would be either chastized or at least given the cold shoulder
by his colleagues. 
   I am, of course, exaggerating. But not to a great degree. The type of
unrequested medical advice described is quite typical of the family doctor 
of a few generations ago who actually knew most of his patients and really 
did care about them. Most doctors now-a-days are "clinical" in their manner,
not concerned. 

-- 
--Brian M. Godfrey
  Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
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