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The Filipino Patient |
| Date Added: August 06, 2008 10:52:46 AM |
| Author: Michael Latayan |
| Category: Health & Fitness: Medicine |
| I have been seeing patients for several years now. In my young medical career, one thing I observed is that many Filipinos, health is not among their top priorities. I have seen patients having their symptoms for more than 10 years and did not see a doctor, not even once! Some would say that the symptoms were tolerable, some would say that they are financially incapable, some would self medicate but sad to say, with the wrong choice of medications and more commonly, some would turn to traditional healers. Another thing I noticed is that free medical clinics become flooded with people for medical check up and especially, free medicine samples. There are also some patients who even if they can afford, go to charitable institutions like PCSO or the city or municipal government asking for financial support for the hospitalization. Funds for this purpose should be given to those who really deserve them not to people who know people in these offices! There was one time I had a free prostate cancer screening in a neighboring city. There were many who attended my lecture prior to the free clinic. Good, at least they were interested in knowing the problems regarding the prostate. But when I flashed the slide on how the prostate is going to be examined(DRE), there were almost 10 who backed out. Why? Embarassment?Macho mentality? I don't know! I can't say ignorance because it was explained to them. Another was when I explained about the potential complication of erectile dysfunction after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer, there was one who said that he would rather die of prostate cancer or its complications than undergo surgery and have erectiel dysfunction after. I just smiled and told him, "trust me, you don't want to do that". There are some who would come when the symptoms are already untolerable. Some are already in an advance stage of their disease. There are also parents who bring their children for consult and even after a thorough explanation that surgery is the best and only option, they back out, the reason: "kawawa man ang bata pag operahan". Then they come back to you after quite some time but now the disease has progressed and they expect you to do the impossible. Reversible conditions become irreversible because of the long term damage caused by the disease process because it was ignored. There are some patients who discover that they have tumor but go into denial, go to a quack doctor or will just simply ignore his condition. Then they come back later, the tumor progressed in size or involved the adjacent organs or worst spread to distant organs. The difficult part comes when the patient and the relatives would expect the doctor to reverse the patient's condition or resect an advanced stage tumor with no residual. The problem is that there are some conditions wherein during the early course of the disease, there are no symptoms and it is only during the advance stage when symptoms appear. Most Filipinos will not have diagnostic tests done unless they have complaints. Others would say, "di ko magpapagawa ng ganyang test, baka may makita". Why? Afraid? Of what? Finding out that there is a tumor and it might require surgery? I really dont know why a lot have this mentality. We are doctors, we are not magicians, we are not Gods. There are many conditions and diseases that could be prevented had they consulted a doctor earlier. There are also some condtions no matter how early they are detected still have an aggressive course. That's why I always tell my patients that it is a good thing that the condition was detected early, therefore, there is better chance for cure. But still, some just simply won't listen. It is just so frustrating, wanting to help and cure the patient especially if the disease process has been detected early. But how can you treat these patients who do not listen to their doctors, no matter how detailed your explanation was. I also feel sorry for the underprivileged patients because we have a very poor healthcare system is our country. Sad to say. I am a believer of the age old saying: "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound cure", now is this hard to follow? Well, it is a good thing that people now are starting to be aware and are more concerned with their health. But this is only a small percentage of the population, but at least there are some who do listen. |
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