A Case Of Sexism, Or Overcrowded Hospitals?

What do you guys think of this article?

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/10/emergency-room-wait-times-sexism/410515/

It's about a woman who had to wait too long in an ER waiting room because the doctors don't take her pain seriously. Because no one saw her fst enough, she lost an ovary that could have been saved. The author claims this is because doctors don't take women's pain as seriously as men's. What do you think?

I think this can be the case sometimes, but there seems to be a lot of other factors going on in this particular story.

 

I read this the other day...unbelievable! I have seen many times people using the ER for things that are just not an emergency, it seems some people use the ER as their doctor. Come in with vomiting, cold, flu symptoms, ingrown toenail. Emergency is just that...emergency! Check it out...non insured folks, even not US citizens go to the ER because they can't afford a regular Dr. They don't mind sitting there all day, they get free care. But they mire down the system for emergencies. I don't know where the fault really lies with that, but our system here in the US as far as that is concerned is broken, badly broken.

I think what people need to know is, be an advocate, a loud one if necessary. Waiting 14 hours for surgery after you come to the ER is so wrong. Had I been there with a loved one...I would have been vocal, maybe even taken her out and to another hospital.

 

By the sounds of whats in the article

Most of it seemed to be caused cos she got a shitty doctor first time around.

And as for sexism, most of those nurses would have been women...but its still somehow some guys fault?

Ever watched an ep of The Bachelor? The chics will cry at any darn thing. Why cant we say woman shouldnt take some responsibility for those actions. They are not children.

So it is true though isnt it. Men would be more likely to be triaged properly becuase they are only going to carry on if it hurts like a mofo. Those nurses see tens of thousands of women, a lot of whom give the same kind of reactions whether its minor or major pain

Sexism in healthcare is in part always womens fault, especially if that sexism comes from women

 

The media sensationalizes everything. Drs and nurses are people too and make mistakes in triage or treatment.

I don't believe there would be any form of sexism going on.

 

I wonder if the first doctor got in any trouble in the end for not doing a full exam.

 

Two things come to mind without reading the article.

Most doctors don't take our pain as seriously as we do.

Emergency Rooms have a triage room for the purpose of sorting out who is there with an ingrown toenail and who is there needing more urgent care.

Like I said, I didn't read so I don't know where the miscommunication came in.

 

Okay, I read it.

First, this guy is super dramatic: "a bracelet like half a handcuff".

I guess neither of them have ever been to an emergency room.

Sure, my husband waited 20 hours with a black toe, suspected of having gangrene, but that's just how long it took during an overly full time at the hospital.

I have a friend who is an EMT at our local hospital. They are dealing with things like children they can't save who came in from car crashes; sometimes several different crashes in a single night.

Sometimes, they are locking down the halls back there while they subdue a crazy person who has a knife on them.

These things happened during our wait. Our friend worked through them as she does every night.

Sure there are some real bitch nurses that work E. R. and the are dismissive with patients, but where would you be without them?

I just think the writer of the story is a drama queen, mostly.

 

Also, never say "11" when 10 is the worst pain you can imagine. No one will take you seriously. Say "10" and give yourself more credibility as a patient.

I've sat in the pain doctors office and heard old women saying their pain is a 14. No, it's not. You just make yourself look like an idiot when you say that. You walked in. You aren't vomiting or fainting from pain. You're conversing fluently. It's under 10, lady.

 

And I have to say it


If the story was instead about a guy that went to hospital with an exploding testicle, same kind of experience

Would the word sexism even be thought to be mentioned?

 

lol@exploding testicle

 

I have heard of men and Iwomen waiting hours in the ER for a myriad of reasons so nope, I doubt very seriously it has anything to do with sexism. Vague complaints of internal pain (and they're probably all vague because you wouldn't be at the ER if you knew exactly what was going on) probably get pushed to the back burner for both sexes because 9 times out of 10 the problem isn't life or death.

 

id need to know her medical history

they tend to check that right away and dismiss or delay people who have a history of using the er to feed their meds addiction

 

Probably happens to a lot of folks, man or woman. When I broke a disc in my spine, I could not stand up straight and had horrible pain. Had to be carried to the bathroom by friends with tears involuntarily falling. Went to one of the hospitals in Hawaii
and was put in a wheelchair to wait. And wait. And wait. Finally saw a doctor who demanded I stand up. Had a very BAD time trying it and the doctor left the room. Nurse came in and told me I was done. I could leave! My girlfriend who accompanied me started crying and asked what was next. Nurse said--"the doctor didn't believe him. Thought he was faking it!" So--she wheeled me out and since she was crying, a lady on the street noticed and said she was from social security and I should go to a hospital elsewhere. I did--they took x-rays--I was admitted and a day or so later--had an operation. Oh yeah----had long hair then. They were up in arms against long hairs/hippies. So-----I think this can happen to anyone, depending on the circumstances.