No Confidentiality in Hospitals

[Sawan Chan 7]

I was at a local psychiatric hospital today because of a psychiatric problem. What a joke. Firstly, I'll say I've been in Thailand 26 years and speak fluently. From the start, the junior nursing assistants stated speaking pidgin English to me and laughing. Then the Woman at reception asked what my symptoms were, in front of a crowd of people. I went to register and again some clerk asked what my medical problem was. Next, some young nurses asked if I smoked or drank - no, then if I drank coffee and wanted to know how many cups per day. Then they went and got an Indonesian woman to come and speak to me and asked exactly the same questions in 'English'. I started correcting her English then a crowd of nurses came. They wanted to know what I had for lunch and what my daily activities were. They asked where I lived, where I worked again what my complaint was. No confidentiality. next another counter where someone basically told me to go and see a certain doctor, again what was wrong with me. By then I was angry and asked if she were a doctor and she wasn't she had no business knowing. Was I wrong? What would you do?

The psychiatrist refused to speak to me in Thai and was half my age and hadn't a clue about my complaint, just offering drugs which a Western doctor would never prescribe to someone with my history but that is another matter.

Picking up medicine, again the 'pharmacist' started asking my symptoms and what I did for work. I didn't tell him.

Should I have said from the start that I was not disclosing my personal information unless they were a doctor?

[canopus1969]

You say(?) you have been here 26 years but you are surprised by all these questions !

[mrtoad]

Maybe choose a better hospital

[papa al]

You say(?) you have been here 26 years but you are surprised by all these questions !

He didn't say(?) he was surprised.

You're making that up.

[cheeryble]

You have been here 26 years and you surely know there's a different attitude to privacy in Thailand.

However, you're quite right, it's not at all professional.

Actually I think it's a bit of an odd one.

Whilst yes it's highly unprofessional the fact is the need for privacy might be largely to do with ego. (No offence here not saying you have a large ego at all I think your reaction is completely natural if it happened as you say.)

Therefore for one's affairs to be everyone's affairs.....like the Thais.....is in a strange way a lessening of one's "specialness", a decrease in the ego which I'd say is surely a good thing for the psyche. One is more part of a group. Everyone is interested.

If they don't realise that you expect privacy though something's wrong (though pleased to see they asked about caffeine.)

Lastly.

There is never an excuse for losing one's temper.

Not blaming you, especially if you are under the weather mentally right now, but there is no excuse.

As a Stoic big S I am aware that no one else is responsible for my mental states, and that means the bad ones.

One bears full responsibility oneself.

Maybe the way to look at it is, these people were certainly willing to help......they simply see the world in a somewhat different way to what you do.

Good luck anyway!

[Sawan Chan 7]

You say(?) you have been here 26 years but you are surprised by all these questions !

If you have nothing useful to say best to say nothing.

Rather rude calling me a liar.

[Sawan Chan 7]

Maybe choose a better hospital

That would work. One positive thing is that the whole thing cost me 60 baht.

At the local private hospital it would have been at least 2000 baht, possibly as much as 5000 baht.

So Im not complaining just wanting to discuss the lack if confidentiality.

Another thing, as I waited to see the doctor we were in a line and could hear everyones conversations as the door was left open.

[Sawan Chan 7]

You have been here 26 years and you surely know there's a different attitude to privacy in Thailand.

However, you're quite right, it's not at all professional.

Actually I think it's a bit of an odd one.

Whilst yes it's highly unprofessional the fact is the need for privacy might be largely to do with ego. (No offence here not saying you have a large ego at all I think your reaction is completely natural if it happened as you say.)

Therefore for one's affairs to be everyone's affairs.....like the Thais.....is in a strange way a lessening of one's "specialness", a decrease in the ego which I'd say is surely a good thing for the psyche. One is more part of a group. Everyone is interested.

If they don't realise that you expect privacy though something's wrong (though pleased to see they asked about caffeine.)

Lastly.

There is never an excuse for losing one's temper.

Not blaming you, especially if you are under the weather mentally right now, but there is no excuse.

As a Stoic big S I am aware that no one else is responsible for my mental states, and that means the bad ones.

One bears full responsibility oneself.

Maybe the way to look at it is, these people were certainly willing to help......they simply see the world in a somewhat different way to what you do.

Good luck anyway!

Thank you for your reply. Food for thought.

Lack of humility is certainly an issue. The weird thing is that being here so long , I have adooted some of the bs attitudes. For example, I am a university lecturer and "expect" respect lol.

Part of my slight anger stems from fear that my biss will find out I was in the loony bin and there is still a certain stigma about mental disorders here.

you are correct as are the ancient Stoics who say things about knowing what one can and can't change. I have a couple of books by Epictetus and Aurelius which will be getting looked for tonight.

[A1Str8]

You have been here 26 years and you surely know there's a different attitude to privacy in Thailand.

However, you're quite right, it's not at all professional.

Actually I think it's a bit of an odd one.

Whilst yes it's highly unprofessional the fact is the need for privacy might be largely to do with ego. (No offence here not saying you have a large ego at all I think your reaction is completely natural if it happened as you say.)

Therefore for one's affairs to be everyone's affairs.....like the Thais.....is in a strange way a lessening of one's "specialness", a decrease in the ego which I'd say is surely a good thing for the psyche. One is more part of a group. Everyone is interested.

If they don't realise that you expect privacy though something's wrong (though pleased to see they asked about caffeine.)

Lastly.

There is never an excuse for losing one's temper.

Not blaming you, especially if you are under the weather mentally right now, but there is no excuse.

As a Stoic big S I am aware that no one else is responsible for my mental states, and that means the bad ones.

One bears full responsibility oneself.

Maybe the way to look at it is, these people were certainly willing to help......they simply see the world in a somewhat different way to what you do.

Good luck anyway!

one's affairs to be everyone's affairs...is actually a cause of an increase in the ego.

To make your affairs to be everyone's affairs is a product of society, which never works on decreasing the ego.

It protects its assets.

[cheeryble]

Thank you for your reply. Food for thought.

Lack of humility is certainly an issue. The weird thing is that being here so long , I have adooted some of the bs attitudes. For example, I am a university lecturer and "expect" respect lol.

Part of my slight anger stems from fear that my biss will find out I was in the loony bin and there is still a certain stigma about mental disorders here.

you are correct as are the ancient Stoics who say things about knowing what one can and can't change. I have a couple of books by Epictetus and Aurelius which will be getting looked for tonight.

As you mentioned Marcus Aurelius perhaps you might pre-prepare yourself with his maxim:

Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All of these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill... I can neither be harmed by any of them, for no man will involve me in wrong, nor can I be angry with my kinsman or hate him; for we have come into the world to work together...

....and yes, you already mentioned recognising what is in our area of influence and what is not, because we may not be able to revolutionise Thailand just yet.

BTW I have twice had an extended appointment with a Thai shrinks about a disorder I have.

I think the cost was 600bt and 1200bt, the first a doc who specialises in the mind and the latter in a large private hospital.

It wasn't really for treatment but just getting it on the record can have value and striking up a relationship can help.

Edited February 26, 2015 by cheeryble

[ajahnlau]

When they start asking a lot of questions on what's wrong just stand up and pretend to unzip your fly,ends it all quickly.

[Langsuan Man]

Maybe if you told us where this occurred, just maybe, a fellow board member might be able to offer an alternative, but let's just let the guessing game continue. it's more amusing that way, and everyone can also increase their post count

[JimmyTheMook]

When they start asking a lot of questions on what's wrong just stand up and pretend to unzip your fly,ends it all quickly.

I did this once at an appointment with Sigmund Freud, he scoffed it was small problem and sent me away with a handful of coca leaves.

[Neeranam]

OP, you could just say - " pom yaak bpen neeranam"

I recommended a famous Thai superstar to go to a detox in Isarn and her anonymity was kept. You have to let them know what you want.

[Sawan Chan 7]

OP, you could just say - " pom yaak bpen neeranam"

I recommended a famous Thai superstar to go to a detox in Isarn and her anonymity was kept. You have to let them know what you want.

I have to give my name at the hospital but I know what you mean.

[arjunadawn]

I would not have revealed any information at all except the type of doctor I wished to see, period!

[sanuk711]

I got away with an offense in Australia a few years back, just by pretending that I had temporary mental problems .

.

I can't take all the credit, though- it was my dog's idea.................

[WarProfiteer]

I think you know the issue was not going to one of the expensive private hospitals which conducts itself in a western way.

In the public ones, I've had someone tell me they were left in the early stages of labor, legs up in stirrups, with the door & curtain wide open... and you thought being asked questions publicly was a little embarassing...

Edited February 28, 2015 by WarProfiteer

[hgma]

Privacy is for the fools....at least that is the impression Thai people give me.

Just the other day i had a chat with a couple of people waiting to see the same doctor, mind you our heart conditions are all the same....so subjects are easy picks....But for sure anfd for hold one or two wiseguys start asking the most ridiculous questions, and its up to you and me to set the tone.....stop talking and ask if they think they ask 'normally accepted' questions (Thai language) they lose face and bugger off.

Thai is public....and you are public domain....you better get used to it

for the record.....i kind of like these chit chats with fellow patients, informative at one tome and just comical another.

[recycler]

In the title of the post you can replace "hospitals" with "Thailand", it's annoying at hospitals, but also in banks, schools and even when dialing the wrong number.

But bet you that the higher ranking people do get their privacy here in hospitals, banks, etc. It's just not for the cattle class...

[Suradit69]

Maybe choose a better hospital

That would work. One positive thing is that the whole thing cost me 60 baht.

At the local private hospital it would have been at least 2000 baht, possibly as much as 5000 baht.

So Im not complaining just wanting to discuss the lack if confidentiality.

Another thing, as I waited to see the doctor we were in a line and could hear everyones conversations as the door was left open.

Never been to a psychiatric hospital, but for medical issues at the "international" hospitals I've never been asked my symptoms before an audience or for anything beyond the barest description with anyone other than the doctor once with him/her in the examining room.

I would guess it;s not much different in other countries with different levels of service available between privately run hospitals and government hospitals, where the confidentiality would be widely different. There's even a television show based on admissions to A&E at King's College and St. George's Hospitals in UK where millions of people with TVs can eavesdrop on your problems ... for their entertainment.

Edited February 28, 2015 by Suradit69

[gandalf12]

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In the title of the post you can replace "hospitals" with "Thailand", it's annoying at hospitals, but also in banks, schools and even when dialing the wrong number.

But bet you that the higher ranking people do get their privacy here in hospitals, banks, etc. It's just not for the cattle class...

Never had a problem with Hospitals, Banks or Schools in Thailand. Must just be lucky

[TheFishman1]

First I hope you received the help you needed. Now I really think if you go back just relax and tell them you want to discuss with the Dr.

[cyrusgreat]

It is lack of common customer service training and knowledge. I certainly don't want to see HIPPA (Health Information Privacy Practice Act ) like it is in USA but a common sense confidentilaity and privacy is important.

[northernphil]

Confidentiality . A couple of years ag my wife was in a big hospital in C/Rai having an operation , the Dr, came over to us to say what would be happening . Either side of us sat 2 women, as soon as the Dr. started to speak these 2 were leaning towards us to hear what he was saying , I said " Hoy bugger off " I mean now bloody rude .

[lucifer666]

The reason that they tell everyone everything are twofold.

1. Someone, somewhere may have seen your symptoms before and may possibly have a diagnosis.

2. Someone, somewhere may have seen this diagnosis before and can possibly remember which medication to prescribe.

That's my guess

[thefactoryoutlet]

You say(?) you have been here 26 years but you are surprised by all these questions !

Exactly what I was about to say...

[scoutman360]

So many times I've done embarrasing things in my life. Everyone looking at me. Over time, I just asked myself, "Will I ever see these people again?" The moral of the story is.. So what? Does it really matter? These people that heard your problems are gone. Does it really matter? Honestly, I feel the same feeling as you, but in the end, does it really matter?

[georgegeorgia]

Is it any better than in Farangland ?

NO ! I NOTICED with shared hospital wards the DR would arrive and pull the curtains around the patients bed...of course all the other beds in the room are having a listen to the Doctor too.

[louse1953]

Maybe choose a better hospital

That would work. One positive thing is that the whole thing cost me 60 baht.

At the local private hospital it would have been at least 2000 baht, possibly as much as 5000 baht.

So Im not complaining just wanting to discuss the lack if confidentiality.

Another thing, as I waited to see the doctor we were in a line and could hear everyones conversations as the door was left open.

You rekon the doctor had no clue,wrong drugs but you still went ahead a purchased them,but on the upside it only cost you 60 baht.