[Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

[Michelle Medina]

I'd have been absolutely furious!!!! In fact, I must confess, I may
have accidentally *purposely* stabbed her hand or arm as my food was
spinning by.
Chelle

On 3/3/11, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
> 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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"THESE STAND FOR ME, NAME YOUR GOD AND BLEED THE FREAK!
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