Power to the Patient!
Next in the series of fourteen foundation truths about Superpatients.
Yesterday in principle 9 we covered how long it takes for scientific journals to get around to publishing knowledge, once it’s been created. Until then, the knowledge bears no fruit. And if you’re one of the suffering people whose outcome may depend on that knowledge, it’s a problem.
[Read more…]Next in the series of fourteen foundation truths about Superpatients.
When your life’s on the line, you may think that all new knowledge will be rushed to the front lines as fast as possible. Not so much.
[Read more…]This is a vital principle to understand – one of the most misunderstood concepts I’ve encountered in my speaking events. Paternalism is rooted in paternal caring, but it’s gone awry.
Next in the series of fourteen foundation truths about Superpatients.
Paternal caring is necessary, even vital, when the cared-for person can’t comprehend what’s going on. (My favorite example is “No, honey, don’t touch the stove! You’ll burn yourself!”) It hit me in an instant when I saw this photo of my new granddaughter at age ten weeks. Look:
[Read more…]Continuing the series started Friday – fourteen foundation truths to set the stage for the upcoming book Superpatients: Patients who extend science when medicine’s out of answers.
A frequent thread in superpatient (and e-patient) stories is when a doctor gives outdated advice about what information deserves our attention. Today’s principle builds on Principle 3, “It’s a myth that doctors can be counted on to know what’s dependable and nobody else can be.” Here’s #5:
