Hannah's Choice: Saying No to a New Heart - TIME

Hannah's Choice: Saying No to a New Heart - TIME

What a poignant and moving story...my own heart and prayers go out to this family. What a brave young woman!

Kidney Donor Game Show (?????)

(Via MSNBC....um...er....I am in shock over this one)

"A Dutch broadcaster will air a game show this week in which a terminally ill woman selects a recipient for her kidneys from three contestants, despite government calls for the program to be scrapped.
Newspaper De Telegraaf said BNN would broadcast The Big Donor Show on Friday during which the 37-year-old woman will choose from three people with kidney problems.

She will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversations with their families and friends. Viewers will be able to send text messages advising her during the 80-minute show.

"The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33 percent. This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list. You would expect it to be better but it is worse," the daily cited BNN Chairman Laurens Drillich as saying.

Ruling coalition parties Christian Democrat and the conservative Christian Union have called the show "wretched" and unethical. But BNN says it wants to highlight the difficulties faced by kidney sufferers in getting donor organs.

That's good, otherwise people might think it's just a sleazy ploy to boost audience ratings."

'Modern' medicine

So...

I had strep and did not know it.

Which meant that I exposed my co-workers, Erin and his children and everyone I came in contact with to strep.

Here’s what happened.

I was very sick Monday the 19 of February. I called off. By Thursday, I was so bad I could barley swallow – since I know I am prone to strep – due to my own childhood experiences with it (I was so sick once I was quarantined) – I called off again and made an appt to see the docs and told the staff that I thought I had strep.

I was seen, and my ‘rapid strep culture’ came back negative. It was then sent out for overnight confirmation (24HR testing). Meanwhile because our clinic is so ‘booked’ I had to be seen in pediatrics – um...well OK no problem. The pediatrician gave me antibiotics but told me not to take them until Sunday and only if I felt no better.

Went into work Friday – I KNOW I was feverish – hung out with Erin and the kids that night – probably still sick. On Saturday I began the course of antibiotics.

Last night as I was leaving my house to go meet Erin and the kids for dinner at his place I got a call from the clinic:

Nurse: C - ?
Me: Yes?
Her: We’ve been trying to reach you all week?
Me: Um...OK
Her: Your strep test came back positive
(long pregnant pause – me thinking WTF??)
Me: Well I got no msg (now here I have to say that after this I found out our voicemail at the home phone is full but read on….)
Her: Well we’ve been trying to tell you all week – but the doctor said not to worry cause what she gave you would have taken care of it’
Me: (*sounding pissed*) yeah well that would be fine and dandy my dear except per THE DOCTOR I didn’t even begin taking the antibiotic right away...And hey, can I ask you something? You DO KNOW that I work at the main location of the clinic downtown, right?
Her: Um...
Me: I mean that IS in my file like everywhere plus I KNOW the doctor in question knew this because she asked me what kind of work I do down there...
Her: Um...
Me: So let me ask you something else – where are you during day-time hours – at home OR AT WORK?????
Her: (*silence*)
Me: (*obviously really angry*) yeah well you might want to pass on to the doctor that I’ve exposed a bunch of people to this – including the possibility of immuno-suppressed patients...


FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!

And I don’t mean to be going off on the messenger but WHAT.THE.FUCK.???

Yeah so hopefully this course of antibiotics will work – I may need to be seen again and if so you’d better believe I am going to raise hell.

GRRRRRRRRRR - what else is new?

OK.

I am not feeling well - I am sick with a horrible cold.

I also have back pain going on - pulled muscle apparently.

Well - the cold thing has to work out on it's own.

For the back issue I was prescribed a prescriptiona strength NSAID.
OK fine - the resident also prescribed a muscle relaxant.

Well I am a good patient - translation: I look up the drugs I am prescribed to gage the side affects.

I find out that the muscle relaxant should not be prescribed to someone with glaucoma - which I have and which I told the resident not once but twice - pluse it's in my permanent medical record - which apparently is of no use.

So today (cause I've been too busy to call before now) - I called the resident:

Me: Dr. the muscle relaxant has a contraindication for people with glaucoma
Him: uh-huh
Me: Well I have glaucoma
Him: OH. Well just take the NSAID then
Me: Um..OK

SO I go down to the pharmacy to fill the Rx for the NSAID - find out it's $60 out of pocket - WTF????

You know what, I am just going to OD on Advil - the hell with this. Why the hell should i pay $60 for an expensive brand of motrin?

Further what the hell is up with these doctors not reading ther PDRs or making sure there's no contraindications when they prescribe stuff for their patients??????



GGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!