J. Bees in my Bonnet

 

J01.  Fallacies and Downright Lies

                 (Full Article in Preparation)

Untruths found too often in Health Care Settings 

e.g. 

A. “You are uninsured for 6 weeks after a Caesarean Section! For the truth see 

www.fawdry.info/eepd/24_lea/b_opleaf/Driving.doc

              B. It is dangerous to use mobile phones in Petrol Stations, Aircraft and Hospitals.

As far as I have so far been able to find out there is no clear evidence for these beliefs.

Lots of people forget to turn their mobile phones off in such situations but there has been no evidence of an increase of petrol station fires, no aircraft accident has been documented as having been caused by mobile phones.  Indeed when escorting a patient on a small plane (5 people only), while taking off, the paramedic was using his personal mobile phone to arrange for an ambulance to meet us when we landed (although I am told that it is worth turning off the phone a) to stop irritating extra noises when the pilot is using his radio, and b) the mobile system gets confused by being able to interact with too many different phone masts)

And also, as far as I have heard, the chances of mobile phones interfering with medical devices is so small as to me non existent.  Such a possibility is certainly not a reasonable reason for banning the use of a mobile phone in the corridor or a side ward.  Naturally if used in an open ward one needs to be careful not to hold loud and long conversations to the irritation of other patients. The real reason for banning mobile phones is to push everyone to using the expensive hospital systems.

www.fawdry.info/eepd/00_hom/ItemNeed.pdf

 

J02.   Jargon or Simple English? 

                  (Full Article In Preparation)

“All Professions are a conspiracy against the Public!” (George Bernard Shaw)

Everywhere in the health service there is so much hot air talk about the need for better communication skills, yet everywhere we look, health care staff use jargon when simple English would take no longer and could so easily be substituted 

e.g. “4X / day” instead of “q.d.s.”, “Nocte” instead of “Nightly”,  “p.r.n.” instead of “When needed”, “Elective” instead of “Planned”, 

and the worst of all for professionally embedded patronising condescension doctor use regarding the reason patients need their help, the following: 

“Presenting Complaints” instead of “Presenting Problems/Needs”,  

“Complaining of” instead of “Troubled by” etc.

 

www.fawdry.info/eepd/00_hom/ItemNeed.pdf