https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 23:32:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52987 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:11:31 +0000 MsMini 52987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I am a nurse, so I might be a bit jaded, but there is such a variation in doctors that you really need to do your homework on yourself, your condition, your doctor, and be your own advocate. </p> <p>I have luckily been in a position where I know a lot about the doctors, and have easy access to other nurses so I can find out about their competence, complication rates etc. I have been able to choose doctors that I trust much more due to my "insider knowledge". </p> <p>I am also totally shameless about using who/what I know to get in with who I want, when I want, and get what I want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52970 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:37:59 +0000 lemondrop 52970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I trust my OB, due to certain circumstances my birth plan went out the window. I found I was much happier with his recommendations than I would have been with my original birth plan. He does these things every single day after all, I do not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52964 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:01:43 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 52964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: I hope he gets better soon. Our daughter started outgrowing it at about your son's age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52962 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:30:42 +0000 brownie 52962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamadopt: Oh I wish you could have helped. It feels like a very lonely journey at times. He was diagnosed with reflux at 1 week old which helped but didn't solve the problems. At 3 months I did an elimination diet (on my own) and he got better so no soy or dairy for him. We are now working with a gastro who is helping but he is now 9 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52953 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:46:55 +0000 tulip22 52953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with Mr. Bee's previous comment--there has been a cultural shift in attitudes towards doctors.</p> <p>Before, things were a lot more patriarchal, and people would follow whatever a doctor told them (think of the archetypal grey-haired old male doctor who "knew best").<br /> Now, there's a lot more focus on patient autonomy, and allowing patients to make their own informed decisions using information obtained from doctors and other sources.</p> <p>I think that researching things for yourself is always a good idea, provided you use reliable sources (there is a *lot* of garbage out there on the internet). And most doctors won't mind if you ask questions, as long as you're not confrontational about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52895 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:38:41 +0000 cupcakemama 52895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I generally trust my Drs but then I make sure that I go with Drs that i do trust and respect. I can imagine as a Dr that there is nothing worse than having patients come in all day telling them that they know better because they spent 15 minutes on wikipedia "researching" their condition.</p> <p>I think in terms of pregnancy and childbirth it helps to do some reading from a variety of sources from the get go. That way when things come up you can discuss them with your Dr at the time. Maybe the medical system is different in the US but I haven't heard of anyone here being forced/coerced into interventions. Any interventions have been discussed with the mum and it has been the parent's decision. Most hospital births tend to be midwife based anyway - the OB is there for complications and when bub is actually ready to appear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52882 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:55:38 +0000 MsMamaBear 52882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think doctors are always right, no one is, but then, I don't go around thinking they are all out to get me. I see that a lot.</p> <p>I do research things. As for my baby's pediatrician, I looked for certain qualities and I saw how I felt around him and how he was with the kids. I trust him and he's great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52837 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:27:09 +0000 cyneswith 52837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>HELL no. I used to - I used to actually LIKE doctors - but then I went through 3 years of medical hell due to a vaccine reaction (daily seizures averaging 6 hours a day, paranoid/violent episodes, cluster headaches, constant vomiting, memory loss. 20 point IQ drop, toxic epidermal necrolysis, that sort of thing), where the solution was found - after I'd lost my military career - via urine test in 5 minutes by a guy willing to do "consultations" for anyone who the standard medical community couldn't help. Pee tests are the ONLY testing he does, yet he solves problems a dozen doctors couldn't fathom (and I'm not his only "miracle" case like that.) Three years of constant pain, and they could've found the answer on day one with a pee test.</p> <p>Between the way my body reacts to stuff and the way doctors treat reactions to meds, I now fear and hate doctors. The degree to which I fear and hate them is irrational, but... cluster headaches are the worst pain humans can live through. The memory of that pain and knowing there was a simple way around them, but the doctors just brushed me off, dragged their feet, made me go through those things every three days for over a year with nothing to dull the pain - it makes me livid. I still have an actual desire to physically harm my doctor from that timeframe (not that I would ever willfully harm another human - he just makes me WANT to.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52833 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:30:18 +0000 Mrsbells 52833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having lived in both england and america for several years I notice a HUGE difference in the two medical systems. I agree with the OP that doctors are not always right. Its good to keep an open mind </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52831 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:17:35 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 52831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Aww brownie, we had that too and it was awful! I wish I had been able to help you through it. Many, many docs don't know much about it or think about it when a baby is having crying problems! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52830 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:11:27 +0000 brownie 52830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Less and Less. My son has had problems since we had him and none of the doctors or lactation consultants have been able to help. I googled and found the answers that we needed (he is MSPI). I was the one that has been working on the problems and suspecting other issues. I was the one that pushed to see a specialist. So, no I don't trust them implicitly. They are a source to use and if they don't work, I will find someone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52814 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:41:39 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 52814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Yup! I am embarrassed for all the "book learning" advice I spewed to patients' moms before I became a mom! To all those moms... I am sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52804 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:46:54 +0000 Mrs. Bee 52804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i generally trust them, but i found that when it comes to certain topics like sleep training, increasing milk supply, etc. moms often know waaaay more than doctors. but i guess those are more parenting related than medical related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52801 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:34:58 +0000 Green Thumb 52801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, seeing that I had my child with midwives and at their birth center.... I think it's safe to say I take what doctors say with a grain of salt :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52788 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:56:31 +0000 Maysprout 52788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think people want to do their best and I want to hear experts advice but . . . I take everything with a grain of salt.<br /> I was told several goofy things from one OB especially so like everyone else new Drs have to earn my trust. Not all of them stay as current as they should on research and research isn't a complete story. Recommendations are often based on averages but no one is completely average, there's always caveats so we try to keep the whole picture in place. I think Drs are in a hard position of trying to give enough info without being confusing so they tend to err on the' just trust me' side, it drives me bonkers that I get more info from my own research but I understand it's difficult to know how much to explain to their patients. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52745 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:33:01 +0000 yoursilverlining 52745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't blindly trust anyone, but I generally trust doctors. I try to do my own research, but its hard to tell sometimes what's really from an unbiased source online, and its sometimes hard to sift through the tons of "journal" articles available online that are not peer reviewed or really have been academically tested/reviewed. I don't pretend that because I can WebMD or Google an issue that that somehow replaces 4 years of college, 3 years of medical school, years of residency and then medical practice. So, I generally trust that the doctors I see, especially with years or decades of experience or specialists with advanced education of training know better than I what's going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52733 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:28:50 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 52733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do trust doctors with most things. I think the only thing I'm wary about is trusting doctors when giving birth because I don't want to have a bunch of interventions and wind up with a c section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52727 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:11:43 +0000 autumnlove 52727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For the most part I am a truster but I definitely do a little of my own research as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52723 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:01:10 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 52723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a doc, I'd like to think that we are pretty trustworthy... BUT, I work in an academic medical center where pharmaceutical reps are not allowed and we stay very current on the latest evidence based recommendations.</p> <p>When you are doing your own research (which I also suggest), it is a bit of an art form to make sure that you are looking at reputable sources and not special interest web pages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52717 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:51:41 +0000 heffalump 52717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the doctor. My dad's a doctor and I like to think he's trustworthy!</p> <p>But I now know not to trust my neurologist ... she flat out said she didn't want me taking a certain med and only gave it to me because I asked for it. But couldn't she have just said no! If it's not good for me, she shouldn't have let me have it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52716 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:51:38 +0000 MegWag 52716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I just mean the system, as opposed to individual doctors. Like here in the UK- The National Health System. The whole machine of it all- research (which I used to work in), education, training, administration, actual practitioners.<br /> I think people forget that it's a business, but it still is! (Though you are right. There has been a shift in recent years.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52713 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:48:51 +0000 mrbee 52713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MegWag: I think there's been a cultural shift where doctors are no longer blindly listened to, but are seen as just one more source of information. I think there was a Scrubs episode about this!</p> <p>As an aside though, what exactly is the "medical establishment"? It sounds ominous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52710 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:44:22 +0000 MegWag 52710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Fair point. I guess I'm just not one to blindly follow orders/advice from any one :) (I could never be in the military!)</p> <p>I'm certainly more trusting of doctors/the establishment than my husband, who has pulled me much more in the sceptic direction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52708 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:42:27 +0000 mrstilly 52708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Until I started doing some reading and research on pregnancy and childbirth I was trusting of doctors. Adding a child to the mix made me more concerned. I am now a skeptic until I trust someone. I went to an office with several midwives and obs while I was pregnant. I asked a lot of questions about my options and why they recommended certain things. I built trust with the midwives when they listened to my concerns and answered my questions. It was the same way with my pediatrician. I had some concerns that the first pediatrician we went to didn't address. I switched to someone who listened to me and took the time to explain things so I understood them. I like it when I'm given the information and options and allowed to make decisions for myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52707 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:41:50 +0000 Andrea 52707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's so easy to do your own research nowadays that I think everyone should do that just to double check what the doctors say. Probably not for every little thing but if something doesn't feel right in particular. They are only human and can make mistakes, too, as well as give biased advice. You can always go to another doctor for a 2nd opinion as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52706 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:40:25 +0000 mrbee 52706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that doctors aren't always right and subject to bias... but then again, who isn't? There are many situations where I'd trust a good and relatively unbiased doctor over my friends and peers!</p> <p>That said, I'm similar to you in that even when I trust a doctor, I try to do my own research too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-trusting-are-you-of-the-medical-establishment#post-52705 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:26:41 +0000 MegWag 52705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently posted about something medical on FB, asking for opinions and lots of people said things like "Doctors wouldn't give you X if it wasn't good for you/OK".</p> <p>This kind of reaction always makes me laugh because I just don't think that Doctors are always the be-all-end-all. (I don't think they're intentionally doing things wrong, just that they are influenced by biased training or money from pharmaceutical companies- even if they don't realize it)</p> <p>Are you a doctor-truster or a sceptic? </p>