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Don’t Mistake Confidence for Knowledge
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Don’t Mistake Confidence for Knowledge
I still remember this so clearly.
My son Kyle was only 8 months old. He had a high fever, had been projectile vomiting for more than a day, and I knew in my gut something was wrong.
I took him to a pediatric specialist and was told it was “just a virus.” Go home.
But he didn’t get better. He got worse.
So the next day I went back.
The same doctor admitted him, very reluctantly, and then did something I still find hard to believe. He wrapped my baby in a wet blanket and had a fan blowing on him. That was the plan.
A nurse even said he was “seeking attention.”
An 8-month-old baby.
I can still feel how angry and helpless I felt in that moment. This was my happy, healthy little boy, and nobody seemed interested in asking why he was so sick.
Thankfully, I was not raised to just smile and accept things when they don’t feel right.
I asked for another specialist.
And that doctor said something I have never forgotten:
“If a mum tells me her baby is sick, I listen.”
He ordered tests.
Kyle had meningitis.
Once they started treatment, he turned around quickly. But I still think about what could have happened if I had gone home again because “the doctor knows best.”
That is why Dr. Joseph Varon’s latest Brownstone article really hit home for me. (link in comments)
He writes:
“The physician’s first responsibility is not to be certain. It is the truth.”
That line says so much.
The best doctors are not the ones who act like they can never be wrong. The best doctors are the ones who stay curious. Who listen. Who are willing to look again.
Because confidence is not the same as truth.
And when doctors stop listening, patients pay the price.
Have you ever had that feeling in your gut that something was wrong, even when a doctor dismissed it?
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10 Replies
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Every patient encounter is an opportunity for learning – medicine is not a static knowledge base, but a constantly evolving mission for health that requires one to be constantly inquiring, processing, reassessing, and responding to the patients and problems before you, and prepared and ready for the next challenging one to come along.
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I think we all need a doctor like you @jwemd 🙂
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Very kind IMA-HelenT!
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❤
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I am so happy your son made a good recovery.
I know exactly what you mean, my son was 11 weeks old and went from a normal baby to a rag doll within 24 hours. I was in the UK at the time and I have never been one to run to the drs because I’ve stubbed my toe, plus it was a Sunday but I knew I had to do something. A locum turned up, who barely spoke English and was more concerned with the dog in the kitchen and that she might get out. He did examine my son gave me a prescription for 4 items and left. All within the space of 10 minutes. I went to the emergency pharmacy filled the prescription and started him on the meds. The next day he wasn’t any better in fact if anything he was worse, so I rang the surgery and asked for the doctor to call again, it was winter and I didn’t have transport and didn’t want to take him out in the cold. By lunchtime I hadn’t heard back from the doctor so rang again, this time I spoke to him and he said I haven’t been because the doctor who saw him yesterday noted that he had sniffles. I said he hasn’t got sniffles, I wouldn’t call for a doctor at any time let alone a Sunday for sniffles. I described his symptoms, as soon as my afternoon surgery is over I will come and see him. He came at 5.30, he asked to see what had been prescribed, did he have a cough, no, throw that medication away, did he diahorrea, no, throw that away, was he vomiting, no, throw that away, did he have nappy rash, yes, keep that one, he then examined my son and immediately asked if I had a telephone, he called for an emergency ambulance. He told me my son had bronchial pneumonia he needed to be admitted to the NICU and the next 24 hours would be crucial. We spent a week in the NICU and thankfully my son recovered. Once we were home I had to go to the doctors to be shown how to do physio to alleviate any congestion on his chest. While I was there my doctor asked me exactly what had happened on the locum visit and after telling him he said that he would be filing a report and that locum would never work for his practice again, had I left it another 24 hours I would probably have lost my son. He is in his 40’s now and although he is quick to get a cold, he is a strong able bodied man and I thank God everyday I made those two follow up phone calls. Mothers instincts are rarely wrong.
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❤ @elizs What a story? So glad you didn’t take no for an answer. I was reading your post in the forum admin system, so I didn’t see the start of the discussion, so I was about to reply with our story of how Helen hadn’t taken no for an answer with our son Kyle. Then I thought I’d better check who started this discussion.
But lovely story. Good for you for persevering. Just brilliant.
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Wow so true, always trust the moms xx so glad we both have healthy grown up men. Thank you for the share @elizs
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I am convinced that nobody in the world really cares about your health, often times not even yourself. For me my health is my number one priority. Nothing else really matters if you are dealing with health issues. The one exception is mothers and fathers who truly love their children. You have to be your own health advocate because you have a vested interest in how well you live. If you are fortunate enough to have some true friends or loved ones, they will probably care and help you in your time of need. But in general, it is rare.
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Sadly @vegandan I suspect you are correct.
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