Stupidity kills way more people than doctors.

[MsAnthropy]

That's why we have the Darwin Awards.

[amazona]

1. I'm not so sure

I thought doctors killed like 100,000 a year -- number pulled completely out of my rear end because I don't know the real number, but it was huge.

By contrast, people killed by stupidity happens uncommonly enough that it is reported in the news and you can keep track of each stupid person killing or de-testicalizing themselves by name.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[MsAnthropy]

2. I like doctors and the doctor-bashing on DU makes me FURIOUS

maybe because I know so many of them, but I feel the need to defend them every chance I get

[Lindacooks]

4. Doctors caused my dh and me a lot of suffering because

they didn't police themselves.

My dh went to the doctor in July of 1984 with terrible stomach pains. This doctor, part of a respected group, first thought it was appendicitis, then tested him for everything from lactose intolerance to tapeworms. He kept going back and got weaker, and this stupid doctor AND the partners couldn't figure it out.

It was cancer, which finally was diagnosed because he had an infection. The pain was from a large tumor in his abdomen, where the cancer had metastisized. He was smack dab in the middle of the age group where this cancer was common.

There is NO excuse for this kind of malpractice. Failure to diagnose is a common reason for lawsuits, and for good reason.

I do trust doctors, but do NOT think they are invincible. And since they don't police themselves (this doctor kept right on practicing, with nothing happening to him), malpractice rates will continue to skyrocket.

Oh, and doctors also killed my grandfather - didn't take a catheter out in time (the nurses were warning us about this), he developed an infection which turned into pneumonia from the bacteria in the infection and died.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Here's the thing, MsAnthropy...Last month, while I lay DYING, they

were going to TURN THE FUCKING MONITORS OFF!!! so my roomate could sleep. Yay! Go doctors /sarcasm off.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. Most cases of stupidity related deaths are not widely reported.

Such as people who run red lights and get smacked.
Or people who drink and drive and are killed.
Or people who OD on drugs (legal or otherwise).
Or people getting involved in gangs.
Or people who practice unsafe sex with strangers.
Or people who leave loaded guns lying around the house.

For every sensational act of fatal stupidity, there are an untold number of deaths of just run-of-the-mill boring stupidity.

[MsAnthropy]

6. I agree--my biggest fear is a stupid death

Where everyone just shakes their head and says "What was she THINKING?!" "What an idiot!" What a legacy to leave everyone, that I was just to stupid to live.

[kick-ass-bob]

5. A doctor saved my dad's life.

He had an aortic dissection (like John Ritter) and survived because the doc was THAT good.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Sorry. I'm not stupid and I still ended up with a Staph infection in

my lung after surgery.

[redqueen]

9. So I'm thinking maybe this thread was inspired elsewhere...

Am I right? Link?

[MsAnthropy]

10. Here it is

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=2648217&mesg_id=2648217

[redqueen]

12. Thank you.

[Susang]

11. Stupidity and doctors are not mutually exclusive

My brother is a doctor, his blog is in my sig-line, but I'm as hard on them as I am on anybody. Doctors are people and therefore fallible. To not recognize that and take steps to insure that there are checks and balances in place to safeguard the patient (and the doctor's reputation) is patently absurd.

[MsAnthropy]

13. EXACTLY! Thank you!

I'm not here to defend the actions of every doctor and every procedure everyone ever had that didn't go right. There are good doctors and bad doctors and it is partially the patient's responsibility what they get. Humans are a guarantee of human error.

[Susang]

14. I think people (and some doctors) expect physicians to be perfect

That impression is reinforced by entertainment and the media. Too many "super-doctors" on television, with nice, happy endings that are easily resolved in one hour increments. Unrealistic at best and dangerous at worst.

Amazingly enough, my bro says the medical show closest to reality is Scrubs, at least some of their characters are bitter and cranky. :D