Because he was a proctologist.

PCP's have like 20 things that they see most often that they can diagnose and treat. If they see something they don't know, they put you on some medication to treat some symptoms and tell you to see a specialist. The specialist has like 20 things they see most often and can treat and diagnose that. They try to fit EVERYTHING into those 20 diagnoses.

There are very few doctors that actually do research on symptoms if they do not fit a common diagnosis. All the rest will treat you for the diagnosis that fits most of the symptoms and chalk up the rest to "everybody reacts differently to things."

i love how all the drug commercials say "ask your doctor about ____"

hey doc, I saw this cool ad for this drug on TV, can you prescribe it to me ?

Pretty much the basis for why the medical industry is completely fucked in comparison with the rest of the world.

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A lot of the time it's because primary care physicians aren't qualified to make anything more than generic diagnosis about things that require a specialist. They are well versed on more common medical issues and then know just enough to say "Go see someone who deals with that type of thing exclusively".

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

There are people who definitely go overboard and don't listen to ANYTHING that medical professionals recommend. That's bad, too.

But in a lot of instances, I agree with all of you completely. Doctors are just regular people. As BC said, they see a handful of illnesses and they usually have standard procedures they use for those things. They're not versed in every area of medicine. That's why there are specialists. And even those specialists can be out of the loop regarding different things within their area of expertise.

The flu shot is a good example. There are certainly differing opinions on them within the medical field. We get bombarded with the questions nowadays. Every time you go to the doctor or Walgreens or CVS, you are always asked. It's actually pretty ridiculous. In 2009, pharmacists were given the ability to administer flu vaccines, and that is when the pressure to get one increased. I have also read that the doctor's offices (and of course the pharmacies) love flu shots because it's an easy, efficient way to gain additional income. They just get a flat rate for each vaccine they administer. Very little overhead, very little time. They certainly have financial motivation to push them.

That said, if you choose to get one, fine. Have at it. It's just not something that everyone should necessarily be doing. It's not like some of the other vaccines.

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My brother is an ER doc. He is entering the "Doc, I have the flu, can you give me antibiotics?" season. Actually its more of a demand than a question and they get pissed at him when he tells them its a virus, go home, get some rest as amoxicillin isn't going to do shit for you.

There really aren't differing opinions in the medical field on it. The risk is far lower than the lowered risk of serious harm to the children and the elderly. It is variable by year but it does lower the risk of the flu which can be deadly to kids and the elderly. If you are one of those groups or around them a lot then it does make things safer. Pediatricians push it for parents because they see young kids with the flu every year and understand the serious nature of it. I don't think it's for profit motive as much as it is for that at least in regards to pediatricians. It's a requirement for almost all healthcare workers and they would only do that if they felt that there was a medical benefit to it.

The pharmacies are a different story as they do push it hard and a faceless corporation is going to have a different take on things than a doctor.

The major difference though is that the vaccine is not effective enough to get the benefits of herd immunity. If it was 99% effective then it would not be a question. The fact that depending on the year it is only 20-50% effective takes away one of the primary benefits of any vaccine.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Good job, Frank and Ugie.

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You wanna talk about what we need some new laws made for, there's a prime example that everyone (except for those on the 'payroll') would agree with.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Jim Jeffries had a funny rant on that on Jay Mohr's podcast. About going into the doctor to ask him about every pill he took.

While the manufacturer of the flu vaccine certainly falls under the umbrella of "Big Pharma," I've never had as much an issue with Sanofi Pasteur as I do with 3M, Pfizer, and others.

Yup. I don't even think the big pharma companies like it. The media companies love it though.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Someone's wrong here, I'm fairly sure.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I only get rabies and distemper shots. Seems to work for me. Occasionally if I'm staying in a hotel, they will mandate that I get a Bordatella shot as well. Such is life.

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I've heard some negative things about Devlin MacGregor.

I was referring to the idea that "getting the flu shot" is better than "not getting the flu shot" in terms of lowering the chance of getting the flu and being safer around kids and the elderly. I would be very concerned if I had a doctor who advised otherwise.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

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Bill Maher had a funny standup bit on it back in the early 2000s as well. He was mocking the phrase in the commercials "Tell your doctor..." He said, "Shouldn't your doctor tell you?" He said when you are telling your doctor to give you drugs, and they do, they basically are just your common drug dealer at that point.

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Do not take 'Provasic!' if you experience chest pain, weakness, or vomiting. Possible side effects include loss of appetite, loss of vision, sleeplessness, loss of smell, death, headaches, loss of taste, lack of bladder control, double vision, high blood pressure, low blood pressure itchiness, hair loss...

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My favorite ones are like "Do not take drug X if you are allergic to drug X".

Good warning. If I'm allergic to peanuts, should I eat peanuts?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah, my other favorites are the anti-depressants that could increase depression. "Taking X may include mood swings, irritability and increase depression.....so if you are suffering from depression and can't get through the day, talk to your doctor about X."

The fuck?

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My favorite drug side effect is suicidal thoughts. What are you suffering from where suicide seems like a better option?

Almost every prescription drug has a Z or an X in its name.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Or the most fucked up have both - XELJANZ

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Can I use that in Words with Friends?

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

You need a medical Dictionary! If a patient gets difficult, you quone him!

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1 in every 50 Seinfeld quotes ends up working.