The Fargo Forum is reporting that Leslie Carlson of Wadena County, Minn., is suing the United States government for misreading x-rays that led them into misdiagnosing cancer when it was actually arthritis. In the suit, Carlson says he went to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fargo in the summer of 1998 for treatment of a prostate condition. The doctors there told him that from the x-rays of his prostate they had evaluated, they were certain that cancer had metastasized to his spine and told him that they had no choice but to remove his testicles.
However, shortly after his boys were removed Carlson learned that he was not stricken with cancer but arthritis.
Doh.
How do you fuck that one up? You don't see them cutting off titties for lumps and then saying "Oops. Why didn't you tell us you had an inverted nipple?"
Government officials have received Carlson's claim and are reviewing it, said Ronnie Miller, the hospital's public information officer.
"I don't think this is going to be an area of contention," said Carlson's attorney, Morrison Kershner said.
Doctors for better or worse hold all of the power. 99% of people in the private sector don't know enough about medicine to second guess their doctor. If he says you have yellow fever all you do is put your face in your hands and ask him how much time you have. You have no clue if that is a disease or a new shade of crayon.
That is why they need mandatory ass kicking for doctors that fuck up like this. I am talking full fledge Texas death dog collar street fights with exploding turnbuckles. But since I am not a violent man, I want to institute a few checks and balances before I start condoning all out beat downs.
So I am calling for government regulation. I know what you are thinking. It was the federal government operated hospital which made this fucking mistake in the first place wasn't it?
Government can't regulate itself. Let the private sector have its turn at the testicle removal industry.
Well, don't say it. You'll only frustrate me and make me lose my point.
Like I just did.
…
Oh yeah, now I remember what I was going to say.
I am calling for my federal government to answer the challenge to put full color posters of Arthritic testicles on at least one of the four walls in every doctor's office at every VA hospital in the country. I don't care if you have a medical degree or not. If you have a scalpel in your hand at any time on your job and I want you so familiar with what a cancerous nut looks like as opposed to an arthritic nut that you could draw one in your sleep. That way we can implement the second phase of my program, making doctors actually seek a friggin second opinion.
I know it sounds like I am recreating the wheel but… |
