Vlado, Chemical engineer of technology, retired 72 years.
The empowered patient does not exist, especially when the patient or family is the victim of a harmful event. For instance, Champions, who are supposed to be such people who succeed in changing something, are only part of the system that tries to show how the system work on the inclusion of patients in all forms of decision-making. We have examples around the world of how they care for the empowerment of patients, but the patient himself can do nothing if he does not rely on some help. On the one hand, there is the psychosocial aid that is part of the system to distract you from seeking justice or seeking justice in court and prepare you to a state where you reconcile, and on the other hand, there are lawyers who encourage you to fight for your rights. In both cases you lose, on the one hand you lose yourself and put yourself in the hands of people who do not recognize Darwin (most of them) and on the other hand you play an expensive lottery where you do not realize that you always lose. Empowered patients are a delusion.
Thank you for your input. It sounds like you were harmed by a medical encounter. I'm sorry to hear that. The column's question was how do you define "patient engagement" not "empowerment" which you deem impossible. Obviously we disagree.
You misunderstood me. Besides, you have already given me a cookie that does not fit. I'll tell you an anecdote. It happened in Augusta, Georgia. I was coming back from a bar late at night. The street was dark, there was hardly anyone around. As I got into my car, a gentleman in a long coat that reached almost to his ankles appeared out of the darkness. He approached the car and motioned for me to open the window. I hesitated, but then I just opened it. "Give me 5 dollars," he said. I took a bill out of my wallet and kept one eye on his every move. He said thank you and left. When I had already pulled out of the parking lot, the gentleman was back at the window. Just like the first time, he motioned for me to open it and proudly said: "Do you think God loves you? I'm a rich man, I'm a rich man."
I don't know why I always remember this incident on such occasions when someone mistakenly forms an opinion about another. Once again, I don't understand the meaning of his words. With 5 dollars in your pocket, you are not rich, you are just a fool.
My position on patient involvement is clear, I am always involved and cooperate and trust doctors. I have formed my position on patient empowerment based on what I know from the country that has the most organized health system in the world. I am of the opinion that involvement and/or empowerment should not replace safety and responsibility, and this is known who is responsible in health care if something goes wrong, and who suffers the consequences.
Vlado, Chemical engineer of technology, retired 72 years.
The empowered patient does not exist, especially when the patient or family is the victim of a harmful event. For instance, Champions, who are supposed to be such people who succeed in changing something, are only part of the system that tries to show how the system work on the inclusion of patients in all forms of decision-making. We have examples around the world of how they care for the empowerment of patients, but the patient himself can do nothing if he does not rely on some help. On the one hand, there is the psychosocial aid that is part of the system to distract you from seeking justice or seeking justice in court and prepare you to a state where you reconcile, and on the other hand, there are lawyers who encourage you to fight for your rights. In both cases you lose, on the one hand you lose yourself and put yourself in the hands of people who do not recognize Darwin (most of them) and on the other hand you play an expensive lottery where you do not realize that you always lose. Empowered patients are a delusion.
Thank you for your input. It sounds like you were harmed by a medical encounter. I'm sorry to hear that. The column's question was how do you define "patient engagement" not "empowerment" which you deem impossible. Obviously we disagree.
You misunderstood me. Besides, you have already given me a cookie that does not fit. I'll tell you an anecdote. It happened in Augusta, Georgia. I was coming back from a bar late at night. The street was dark, there was hardly anyone around. As I got into my car, a gentleman in a long coat that reached almost to his ankles appeared out of the darkness. He approached the car and motioned for me to open the window. I hesitated, but then I just opened it. "Give me 5 dollars," he said. I took a bill out of my wallet and kept one eye on his every move. He said thank you and left. When I had already pulled out of the parking lot, the gentleman was back at the window. Just like the first time, he motioned for me to open it and proudly said: "Do you think God loves you? I'm a rich man, I'm a rich man."
I don't know why I always remember this incident on such occasions when someone mistakenly forms an opinion about another. Once again, I don't understand the meaning of his words. With 5 dollars in your pocket, you are not rich, you are just a fool.
My position on patient involvement is clear, I am always involved and cooperate and trust doctors. I have formed my position on patient empowerment based on what I know from the country that has the most organized health system in the world. I am of the opinion that involvement and/or empowerment should not replace safety and responsibility, and this is known who is responsible in health care if something goes wrong, and who suffers the consequences.