Self Advocacy At A Famous Bangkok Hospital...still Required

[phetaroi]

Visit 1...superior service. Extremely pleased.

Visit 2...superior service. Extremely pleased.

Visit 3...Well, not so good. Getting over flu-like symptoms, but thought I ought to have it checked out. Also wanted to be checked for Hep B as my SO has it (i have been fully vaccinated). Doc gave a very superficial body exam, although I doubt he could have actually seen my throat from that distance. Very superficial questions. He was not even willing to look in my ears (temporary hearing loss due to congestion)...said I would have to go to ENT for that. Just to look? I never heard of a general practitioner who would not at least look at one's ears. Diagnosis -- bronchitis. Okay, makes sense. Prescribes 4 meds. An antihistamine...okay. An expectorant...okay. A cough med with codeine...hardly needed and a problem with Paxil (which I am getting off, and he had never heard of, and couldn't be bothered to take a minute to look it up on the computer...I know it is called something different in Thailand). A different antibiotic...one of the most dangerous antibiotics, especially for people who have hepatitis...which he agrees I should be tested for. Says the antibiotic I have been taking is "old fashioned", even though in reality it is currently drug of choice prescribed worldwide for...oops...bronchitis and other lung infections.

Cross that doc off my list for future visits!

[chivo]

can u say which doc? which hosp? bnh or brg?

[Sheryl]

It really does not matter which hospital because what is described could happen at any hospital, in any country.

There may be some hospitals with no first rate doctors, but there is definitely no such thing as a hospital with no sub-standard doctors.

No one should consult a doctor without specifically looking into their qualifications and selecting them with at least as much care as thewy would use in choosing a car repairman or contractor to build their house. I never cease to be amazed that people will just walk into a hospital and take pot luck. Choose your doctor, and choose with care.

Self-advocacy is necessary in all health care situations, regardless of hospital or country.

[Damacles]

It really does not matter which hospital because what is described could happen at any hospital, in any country.

There may be some hospitals with no first rate doctors, but there is definitely no such thing as a hospital with no sub-standard doctors.

No one should consult a doctor without specifically looking into their qualifications and selecting them with at least as much care as thewy would use in choosing a car repairman or contractor to build their house. I never cease to be amazed that people will just walk into a hospital and take pot luck. Choose your doctor, and choose with care.

Self-advocacy is necessary in all health care situations, regardless of hospital or country.

I agree that one should take at least some responsibility for selecting treatment, but perhaps not as easy as it sounds, especially when you're in a foreign land. I visited (probably the same) a famous hospital in BKK a few years ago and received what I felt was exemplary treatment following a diving accident. All my Thai friends (the hi-so ones anyway) recommend it, and when I hurt my leg last year I had no hesitation returning, full of confidence that I would be taken care of.

After registering my arrival, they forgot I was there; I reminded them nearly 2 hours later and was ushered in to see a doctor. After explaining my symptoms, he examined my leg and informed me I had a sprain, giving me anti-inflammatories. At the time I could put very little weight on the leg, and a sprain made sense to my ill-educated brain.

10 days later and not much better, I knew it was something worse. Rather than go back to the hospital, I flew home a month early to be told by my doctor immediately on examination that I had torn my Achilles in 2 places, and that I should have been in plaster for the first 2 weeks. I am still paying for this mistake.

My point is that I don't think first finding out what doctor would be seeing me, and then checking him out (how?), would have made much difference. I agree that some are better than others, the quality of service from others sometimes affected by circumstance (perhaps in my case, being forgotten and then a rushed examination). With other ailments, definitely a serious examination of qualifications and reputation should be undertaken.

[Sheryl]

Unless it is an emergency situation and you are unconscious or so seriously ill that not a second can be wasted (in which case you go in by the ER) I don't understand the "finding out what doctor would be seeing me" part. You can choose which doctor, that is one of the prime advantages of private hospitals.

The qualifications of the doctors appear on the websites of all the major private hospitals. Along with their hours. 15 minutes online should enable you to make a reasonably informed choice about which doctor to request. Even if you went directly to the hospital, most of them have internet facilities. Take the time to avail of them.

If you have more than 15 minutes, a search of this forum will likely turn up some first hand revommendations as well.

If you don't request anyone in particular and just leave it to the hospital staff, you will probably be sent to see whoever is least busy, which is (for obvious reasons) often not the best doctor.

And in a worst case emergency scenario where you are unable to do any of this, whomever you have in the way of friends/family should do it for you ASAP.

[Jingthing]

In my limited experience with Thai doctors, I have found a tendency for long distance diagnostics. Once I was very ill down in Trang and had no choice but to go to the Trang hospital. The doc didn't get near me! He did everything from about 20 feet away, sitting down! Now that is an extreme case but what the OP reported here is the same kind of hands off doctoring. It is strange. I just assumed it was cultural and also an old fashioned practice of doctors as demi-Gods who are too good to get their hands dirty. Yes I know this doesn't always happen, but I still think this is a common tendency here that when it happens to westerners, may shock you.

[Sheryl]

By PM one TV member raised the issue of small hospitals upcountry where there is often just 1 doctor on duty.

My recommendation is simple: never utilize such places. Upcountry, either get to a major city or go to the nearest government provincial hospital. (Provincial, not district!!!!). You will nto be able to choose your doctor at government provincial hospital but the standard of care is usually acceptable.