[Blindtlk] Who Bathes You?

Fri Mar 4 12:11:56 UTC 2011

I went to see a dermatologist once who said, You're really clean! Who bathes 
you?" I expressed my dismay that a well educated person like a doctor would 
ask such an offensively stereotypical question, as I took out my business 
card and handed it to him.Then I asked him "Who bathes you?" He apologized 
profusely, sharing that he understands how I feel because he has a clubbed 
foot! There's no accounting for convoluted logic! In the words of Archie 
Bunker, "That's the kind of straight thinking we need nowadays!"

Fraternally yours,
Marion

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michelle Medina" <michellem86 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Responses of Medical Professionals.

> 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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>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> "FUCK YOU FOR KILLING ME!!!!" SHAUN MORGAN - "NEEDLES"
> "THESE STAND FOR ME, NAME YOUR GOD AND BLEED THE FREAK!
> I'D LIKE TO SEE, HOW YOU ALL WOULD BLEED FOR ME!" -LAYNE STALEY -
> "BLEED THE FREAK"
>
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