Doctors Have Degrees, Patients Do Not.

I will begin by a statement I overheard in a waiting room not too long ago. It went a little something like this:

"Doctors go to school to learn this stuff; they get a degree. Patients just do not have the knowledge of a doctor."

If I were younger and more naive I would probably agree with the above notion, but I only agree 100% with the first part; doctors holding a degree. I know I am not speaking for every patient, but I know that I am quite knowledgeable when it comes to the signs/symptoms of illnesses. I also have an idea about what kind of treatments are out there and the benefits and risks of the different approaches. Many other patients take it upon themselves to research health issues online and may even take classes on such topics. Heck, maybe they are a college student studying public health or biology (not referring to anyone, *insert sarcasm* haha.) Now, with that being said, I am sure there are those out there who depend on their doctor's expertise to get them by in life, and do not know much in regards to the health field. An article I found from USA Today titled, "Doctors often take the decider role, to patients' detriment" went along with this whole idea.

In a study of over 3,000 adults, over the age of 40, it was found that doctors initiated the conversation with their patient 93% of the time. This included topics ranging from surgical options, to taking medications for high blood pressure, to treatments for cancer. Doctors were more likely to mention the pros of a treatment for example and much less likely to mention any of the risks or cons. Another finding from the study concluded that almost every doctor gives their opinion (of course), but does not always ask the patient for his/her view on the topic being discussed.

To reflect on the conclusions made by this study I will first say I believe it is important for doctors to give their opinions. They DID go to school for quite awhile to learn about different methods of treatment, and telling patients about the benefits of such a treatment "reflects good medical judgment" as expressed by a researcher in the article. A patient has the right to refuse treatment or simply the right to just ask questions, but many doctors are crunched for time and hold off on letting patients express their opinions.

Ways in which to improve these findings can start at the medical school level. I am not sure what the curriculum is, but more time should be spent on the approach future doctors take on interacting with their patients. For example, ways in which allow the patient to express their feelings on treatment, concerns they may have, and so forth. Another problem that needs to be fixed is the amount of time doctors spend with their patients. I know the demand is very high on doctors, and many are swamped with patients left and right, but that may be part of the solution. Maybe doctors need to have a set number of patients they can see in a day which ensures each patient more than a five minute visit. Cutting back on the number of patients a doctor can see is a double edged sword though. That means some patients may have to go another week before they can be seen, but it lets doctors engage more with their patients and gives patients the time to weigh options, ask questions, and give their own opinions. Patients also need to speak up and let their voices be heard because everyone has the right to say yes or no. If patients do not do this, then there will continue to be a belief that there is a gap between patient/doctor knowledge in various health topics, and that doctors are solely the decision makers. I actually found a program called Speak Up that some hospitals have implemented. It is a program that encourages patients, and family members of patients, to ask questions, learn about treatments, pay attention to care received, and know why certain medications are being taken. I wonder if there is a program called the Power of the Patient ... would be a good name for one if there is not one!

MLK Shot for Color of His Skin - Lawrence King Shot for Sexual Orientation.

The GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) was started in 1995 and is the leader of the pack when it comes to ensuring safety in schools for every student. It hopes to eliminate bullying and harrassment in schools, and strives for all students to be accepted no matter their sexual orientation or the way he/she chooses to express his/her gender.

In an article from the GLSEN site comes a tragic story of a 15 year old boy (Lawrence King) who was shot to death because of his sexual orientation and expression of. This happened in a California school and research has shown that this state is highly unsafe for those who differ from the "norm." Those that fall into the LGBT population.

A report (Inside California Schools: The Experiences of LGBT Students) which sampled 673 California students, found that these students faced enormous amounts of harassment. Not only did the report find high levels of harassment, but also lower grades/performance in school and a higher rate of skipping class. Some of the statistics produced from this research include:

1. Almost every LGBT student reported hearing sayings/words like, "that's so gay" and "faggot" on a day to day basis.
2. 8 out of 10 LGBT students said they had been verbally harassed, 4 out of 10 had experienced physical harassment, and 2 out of 10 had been physically assaulted.
3. Two thirds of those who had been harassed in some way did not report the abuse.
4. Almost a third of students reported missing class, or a full day of school, due to feeling unsafe in the school setting.
5. LGBT students showed lower grades; a half a grade lower than those who were harassed less often.

This harassment, any kind, definitely can affect LGBT students; no questions about it. The disparities that are seen in the LGBT populations can start at a very early age. Even though middle school/high school students are still developing and discovering who they are, there are those who have accepted, and know, that they are gay, a lesbian, bisexual, and so forth. If a person of one of these "categories" (I don't like using that word, but it will work) comes out early, they risk many different disparities from that age on. It could be something like not being chosen to be on a team in PE class, or something on a bigger scale like having a doctor not treat them because of their sexual orientation. As these students progress through life and become adults, they will face even more disparities. Everything from finding a job, where they are welcomed and where they are not, what kinds of treatment they will receive for medical conditions, and how people will view them if they have children.

GLSEN is a great organization, but more needs to be done to stop this harassment being seen in schools. There is a National School Climate Survey that follows the LGBT middle school/high school students in the United States, but all this survey does is prove that this harassment is happening. What does it do other than that? Yes, students are being bullied because of their sexual orientation/gender identity, but instead of just collecting this data DO something about it.

I know many middle school/high school aged students can have a hard time accepting all types of people. I have been there. When one is younger he/she may judge others more and put people into certain "groups" or "cliches", but that does not mean these perceptions cannot be altered. Maybe there should be a class students must take that focuses on the equality of all people. Maybe those who bully LGBT students should be punished more harshly. Maybe parents need to educate themselves more on what is happening in schools and get more involved. Maybe LGBT support groups need to be formed for the younger folks. There is no single answer to this problem, but it is clear that some different options need to be considered to keep this horrible harassment from happening. It crushes my heart to hear a student could shoot another student solely because he/she was not heterosexual.

I really liked these pictures so I added them.