Urgent: How can you get a qualified doctor to read a medical report?

[pcboy]

Hi, I will try to explain this situation as clear as possible....

MY aunt is currently experiencing unusual coughing since the end of Jan, family doctor told her it's just regular cold. After a week, my aunt still coughing all the time, this time the fam doctor issued her some anti biotic. Still no help, another trip to the family doctor, this time the doctor asked to to do an xray. The X-Ray shown there's a shawdow in her lung, but they cant determine if this is cancer or something else....

Anyway, the family doctor asked her to do a "CT" (i don't know what it is, I am just translating whtever my mom is telling me right now) in the hospital. After a few days, the "CT" report came back, again, they CANNOT determine what the black shadow is... My aunt is continuing coughing, and also develop a chest pain.... They sent her to a clinic to suck some liquid out from her lung, this will determine what that black shadow.... THIS IS THE PROBLEM, apparently, the report came back to the clinic on March 23, the reception told my uncle the doctor is not here to open the report. My uncle continues to call everyday, but the whole time they said the doctor is not here, because he's away and doing operations at the hospital. My uncle was like WTF, the clinic insist they cannot open the report nor have the knowledge to read the report, and my aunt simply just have to wait. A few days ago, my aunt also see some tiny bit of blood coming out from coughing.....

WE ARE REALLY MAD, If my aunt indeed has lung cancer, this would delay the treament, because the doctor is not available to read the report... WHAT CAN WE DO NOW, it's almost seems like my aunt just dieing at her house, without any medical help from the stupid health system.

Background Info:
My aunt is 60 years old
the place is London Ontario
coughing since end of Jan, getting more and more severe. The family doctor and the hospital just kept throwing her to different places.....and not getting any treatment

What should we do? Please help, we are honestly feeling hopeless....

[83_gemini]

Two things:

1. If your aunt is concerned about her health she should go to a hospital--to the extent that they sent out the report nearly 2 weeks ago and you are concerned that this needs to be urgently looked at, and if the hospital thinks it needs to be urgently looked at (obviously their call is better then yours), then you should have them make the call and not wait

2. If you are genuinely concerned about the family doctor's conduct you (or your aunt) can complain about the doctor's conduct to the College of Physician and Surgeons. It is best to send a detailed and thorough complaint to the College. Whether the doctor's conduct is worth complaining about is obviously another matter, but that (aside from a civil action, which is another kettle of fish) is the best way to address clinical concerns.

Complaints Process (http://www.cpso.on.ca/policies/complaints/default.aspx?id=1772)

As a heads up:
The complaints process is slow and can be rather unpleasant.

[MrDisco]

Anyway, the family doctor asked her to do a "CT" (i don't know what it is, I am just translating whtever my mom is telling me right now)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computed_tomography

[spintheblackcircle]

Relax man...

Physicians are busy people.

If it is lung CA (and that's a big if), "delaying the treatment" for a week or two is not going to make a difference in mortality. Again that is a big if...

Continue to treat the symptoms (with an antitussive/cough syrup) and follow up with the doctor every few days. Do not jump to conclusions that it is lung cancer (especially when I assume none of you are health care professionals) and make the situation worse than it is.

Look at the differentials for a "chronic cough" online. There is a long list.

Medicine is not an exact science.

[Piccolo]

Two things:

1. If your aunt is concerned about her health she should go to a hospital


This was my first thought. If she is coughing up blood and she can't get ahold of her family doctor, tell her to go to the emergency room. It must be scary and frustrating to go through this. I hope your aunt is able to get the answers and the relief she needs.

[pcboy]

They did sent her to the hospital to have her xrayed, but the report cannot determine what the dark shadow is.... That's when the hospital asked her to see a clinic where they will take some liquid out of her lung for further eximination.

During this whole time, my aunt feel more and more pain while coughing. It's only a few days ago she sees blood from coughing. Next step, it's going to be the emergency room. But it's ridiculous to wait this long for the report from the clinic.

[spintheblackcircle]

During this whole time, my aunt feel more and more pain while coughing. It's only a few days ago she sees blood from coughing. Next step, it's going to be the emergency room. But it's ridiculous to wait this long for the report from the clinic.

Ok...

She has had diagnostics done and you are just waiting for results to be read and a potential diagnosis. She has had this condition for 3 months. Chronically coughing for 3 months, one would expect that depending on the frequency and severity that eventually you may see hemoptysis (coughing up blood).

I assume that she has been taking a cough syrup (script or OTC) in conjunction with ibuprofen/acetaminophen for the associated chest pain (if she is not allergic). The doctor would have told you this. You would treat the symptoms (chronic in this case) in lieu of a diagnosis at this point (she has already been on an antibiotic).

In the end, yes if you are concerned and the "symptom relief" is not helping the take her to the emerg to see a physician.

[bigredlemon]

As a patient, you can request a copy of your own report. Get a copy and read it yourself. Those reports are usually in plain english and understandable by all. A doctor is needed to interpret the meaning and what to do next, but the report itself you tell you whether it's positive or negative for cancer or any other findings.

I have no formal medical training and had no trouble reading the hundreds (or thousands?) of medical reports that came through me.

[bigredlemon]

if you are REALLY desperate, you can go to any doctor and hire him/her to interpret it for you. Don't be surprised if the fee is in the high-hundreds or low-thousands though.

[Mui_Mui]

What other medications is your aunt currently taking?

More specifically, is she on any blood pressure medications?
A certain class of blood pressure medications has a rare side effect of persistent dry cough that can last for months, and over the counter cough medications and even prescription cough medications will not help.

The only solution is usually to switch to a different class of blood pressure medications which usually alleviates the problem.

[Bazooka Joe]

Relax man...

Physicians are busy people.

If it is lung CA (and that's a big if), "delaying the treatment" for a week or two is not going to make a difference in mortality. Again that is a big if...

Continue to treat the symptoms (with an antitussive/cough syrup) and follow up with the doctor every few days. Do not jump to conclusions that it is lung cancer (especially when I assume none of you are health care professionals) and make the situation worse than it is.

Look at the differentials for a "chronic cough" online. There is a long list.

Medicine is not an exact science.


Ok...

She has had diagnostics done and you are just waiting for results to be read and a potential diagnosis. She has had this condition for 3 months. Chronically coughing for 3 months, one would expect that depending on the frequency and severity that eventually you may see hemoptysis (coughing up blood).

I assume that she has been taking a cough syrup (script or OTC) in conjunction with ibuprofen/acetaminophen for the associated chest pain (if she is not allergic). The doctor would have told you this. You would treat the symptoms (chronic in this case) in lieu of a diagnosis at this point (she has already been on an antibiotic).

In the end, yes if you are concerned and the "symptom relief" is not helping the take her to the emerg to see a physician.

You're getting some solid advice right here OP, hope you recognize this.

Just out of curiousity, when your Uncle calls, how does the conversation go?

Uncle: "Hi, I'm calling on behalf of <aunt>. She is a patient of <Dr.>. Can you please tell me what the results were for the tests taken on <date> and delivered to your office on <date>?"

Staff: "The doctor is busy, hasn't been in and read them yet."

Uncle: "Can you please give me an exact date and time that the Dr. will be available to do so, I'm concerned about the health of my wife.".

Staff: "<Time>, <Date>"

Problem solved? If they say they don't know when, explain your concern and ask them what the alternatives are. Explaining to someone that you need their help (or advice) is a very effective way to get their help. Getting mad doesn't help anything and is in fact counter-productive.

[cheeseshredder]

You have to be forceful about it.

Go to the ER if it gets really severe.

[Krox]

Most likely the doctor has already read the report. The problem is the secretaries who answer the phone CANNOT give you test results and the doctor is too busy to take the phone call. Try asking for an appt to discuss the results.

If you are really unhappy with the doctor, your Aunt should phone up your family doctor and ask for a referral for a second opinion. Unfortunately, in London this might be limited and you might have to travel to Hamilton or Toronto.

The thing to remember is don't get mad or angry at the people on the phone. They have no control over the doctors. Be polite and firm. Tell them this is really causing a lot of stress and are unsure how to proceed.