[Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

When I was a kid in Oregon, most blind children were treated at the University of Oregon Medical School. Being an RLF (now ROP, nothing's changed but the initials) child, all the interns took a look at me. Looking back, I don't remember any of them introducing themselves, but they sure loved working with the pressure gage and the slit lamp.

My best medical story, though, comes from eye surgery in the seventies. I was in the hospital after surgery, and was getting my first real meal. I know that there was something on my chart that said I was blind, since, after all, the bandages over the eyes wouldn't give any clue. The service staff came in, and put the food tray on the table over the bed, and I thanked her, assuming our interaction was done. She looked at me, looked at my wife who was in the room, and turned the tray 180 degrees. I thanked her again. She looked back at me, back at my wife and turned it again. After the third iteration, I confess I lost my patience and asked if I was just supposed to use a fork to stab something as it went by.

It's funny now, but frustrating then.



-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary Mc Gee
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 3:11 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

Dear Fellow Federationists;

            I've read with interest all the posts about experiences at health care providers' offices.  I have some experiences I can throw into the mix.

            First, I'll say that, because the cause of my blindness is albinism, I had a unique appearance that was impossible to hide when I was younger.  I was a student at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School for ten years and, during that time, I went to the University of Iowa for free eye care-at least "they" called it eye care.  It was more on the order of eye study because every med student, intern, and ophthalmology resident had to come examines the "albinotic eye" before I received any low vision glasses, etc. that would actually improve what little vision I have.  I felt like a zoo or circus animal on display because I was a condition rather than a person.  It hurt a lot and I'm not simply talking about all the lights shining in my eyes, but also the emotional pain it caused.  

            As an adult I've had some doctors who have been very nice and some who haven't.  The number of nice ones directly correlates with my various degrees-all doctors and staffs are nice now that I put "Attorney" on their intake forms.  

            But, when I first came to Des Moines in 1976, visited a neurologist because of migraine headaches.  He spent more time looking at my eyes than he did taking a history of the headaches.  I went to one doctor whose office staff handed the intake form to my driver too complete until I complained.  One time, when I went to an orthopedic surgeon's office for an expert consult to prepare for trial, I was greatly surprised that she spent fifteen minutes asking about my vision instead of my client's treatment.  I simply told her that, if she billed for those extra minutes, she wouldn't be paid, because I would deduct that amount of time from my bill back to the client.  She didn't argue and even apologized.

            I'm fortunate that I currently have a sensitive, caring group of physicians.  I'll have to admit, though, that the trauma of the past plus my attorney's skepticism is quite hard to eliminate when I meet a new one.  

            The Iowa Department for the Blind has been doing a PR project with health care providers to educate them with the hope that fewer people will have unpleasant experiences when they need help.  

            I'd be interested in hearing if any of you, like me, were treated as a medical oddity at any time.
Sincerely,

Mary L. McGee

 

 

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