Do You Ever Lie To Your Doctor?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
May 2, 2010 2:48pm CST
I have been pondering over this question since I came out of hospital the other day. I had to stay in overnight for a second blood test to make sure I hadn't had a heart attack. Anyway, the Junior Doctor asked me various questions as I was sat up in my hospital bed (really early on in the morning I might add) and one of his questions was this:-
"Do you drink alcohol?"
"Er, yes." (Blushes)
but he can't see anyway because of the dim light.
"How many units per week?"
"Er, 5!"
Now, since I released myself from hospital I figured out that it's more like 25 units of alcohol per week I drink (as in 2 cans of lager nightly) which equates to 5 units per night, not per week!
According to the Chief Medical Officers (or Fascists to give them their proper term) women are recommended to drink 2-3 units per day of alcohol. That's like one and a half cans. I mean, who on earth would drink that, they'd run to two wouldn't they?
I don't know how they come up with these silly figures and I get annoyed with wine drinkers because it's not healthy AT ALL drinking that stuff. For starters, who's going to drink a couple of glasses...more like a whole bottle.
Get real!
At least I don't smoke...and have never smoked. Dead healthy I am lol.
By the way, when my OWN doctor asked me how many units of alcohol I drank in a week I told him "20" and he didn't bat an eyelid!
So, tell me, have you ever lied to your doctor(s) and why?
but he can't see anyway because of the dim light.
"How many units per week?"
"Er, 5!"
Now, since I released myself from hospital I figured out that it's more like 25 units of alcohol per week I drink (as in 2 cans of lager nightly) which equates to 5 units per night, not per week!
According to the Chief Medical Officers (or Fascists to give them their proper term) women are recommended to drink 2-3 units per day of alcohol. That's like one and a half cans. I mean, who on earth would drink that, they'd run to two wouldn't they?
I don't know how they come up with these silly figures and I get annoyed with wine drinkers because it's not healthy AT ALL drinking that stuff. For starters, who's going to drink a couple of glasses...more like a whole bottle.
Get real!
At least I don't smoke...and have never smoked. Dead healthy I am lol.
By the way, when my OWN doctor asked me how many units of alcohol I drank in a week I told him "20" and he didn't bat an eyelid!
So, tell me, have you ever lied to your doctor(s) and why?1 person likes this
10 responses
@kedralynn (980)
• United States
2 May 10
I haven't really lied about anything to my doctor, but I know people who have. Sometimes we're embarrassed by the questions and answers. I think the doctors are used to it tho. I think that's why both the nurses and the doctors ask you the same questions, to see if your answers are the same. I had 4 people ask me my symptoms at the hospital last night. It got kind of annoying to me but I understand there must be a reason for it. And I think my answers kind of did change as we went along because I got tired of repeating myself or forgot to mention a symptom to one person but remembered it later.
I sometimes lie when they ask "do you have any questions?" I guess I just don't always know how to bring up a personal medical problem with a stranger. It's much easier with my own doctor who I am used to seeing. I tell him pretty much everything so he knows how best to help me. But I still don't ask enough questions! I need to work on that...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 May 10
I don't ask enough questions during interviews for jobs...which is probably why I'm in a part-time one with no prospects (and no interview necessary either) but I do know what you mean about not asking the doctors questions. Hopefully, I shall obtain answers as regards my treadmill test very soon as I left hospital before knowing them!
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
2 May 10
I'm the patient from hell as I ask loads of questions. I've been in the care of a great consultant for a while and he's happy to answer them all. He always says that its my body and he wants me to be sure whats going on so that i can make informed decisions. The one I saw last week (different department) was pretty dismissive so I just asked other members of the team instead.
Takes ages to get results of tests here doesn't it?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 May 10
Well, I believe the treadmill results were there (as I brought them up in a brown envelope from the room lol) but no doctors were available to peruse them. If I hadn't signed myself out then I would've had to stay in hospital another night just so a doctor could come up to me at 8am the following day to discuss those results with me. Shambolic!
At least it was all free though. I love the NHS from that point of view.
@mavieserrano728 (670)
• Philippines
3 May 10
I really cannot afford to lie to a doctor. One reason is that I rarely got the doctor. Secondly, I am probably experiencing something that is not normal for me that is why I consulted a doctor and lastly I pay for the consultation so I have to make sure that I get most put of that consultation. Besides it's my health that I am worried about and want quick solution to it before it's too late.
I know exactly what you mean 
@aliasad (1567)
• Pakistan
3 May 10
Hi Janey1966! I think the Doctor is one who tries to cure the disease by medicine, by surgery either minor or major, by therapy and likewise etc. I don't think that one should tell a lie to the person who is meant to resolve the health issue. But I know people use to, sometimes due to feeling some embarrasment. But I don't like to hide if I feel myself really determined to get the disease cured. Well, in remember in the childhood my younger brother was afraid of taking the medicine, especially the tablets. Mostly he tried to throw into the drain. lol . Yes, but now the days are gone.
Thanks for discussion.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 May 10
I'm lucky in that I'm not on medication for the condition I described and I want to avoid this for as long as possible. I would much rather be advised on diet and exercise as opposed to lowering my cholesterol with "statins" or whatever they are called.
I've done a bit of gardening today and feel great. Not done it before but I really enjoyed myself!
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
2 May 10
No , I never lied to my doctor, once he asked if I smoke I said no because I do not smoke. When he asked do you drink I said yes but added other comments like , its not very often and I do not drink whisky or rum just vodka. I dont lie to docter because he will get to know the facts if I am not speaking the truth. Whatever he is asking should be communicated clearly so that he can suggest proper medicines.
We should hide nothing from the doctor:)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 May 10
I don't keep anything from my own doctor, just the ones at the hospital as I don't think they were listening anyway. That's another problem in hospitals...too many people asking questions but no cohesion between them all as they are on different shifts and don't pass on information!
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
3 May 10
I think there should not be any lie to any doctor wheather its your own or the one in the goverment hospital.
@nursemorph (69)
•
3 May 10
Personally, I don't lie to my doctor as I don't see the point. the more they know, the better they can treat you. To be honest, doctors generally don't take what you say at face value anyway. As a nurse, I spend lots of time seeing what patients tell their doctors: I'll have a patient who had 3 or 4 episodes of chest pain during a night but when the doctor asks them in the morning, they'll deny it. I dunno why as we tell the doctor the truth anyway.
I have been always taught that patients do underestimate things so, for example, if I ask a patient how much they smoke and they say 10, then I will automatically assume they smoke at least 15. Not all patients are the same but a lot choose to not tell the truth.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 May 10
I'm glad someone from the medical profession has responded to this discussion and welcome to MyLot. To be honest, I get mixed up with "units" although I'm obsessed with them now! I did know that a can of Holsten Pils has 2.5 units in it and I can honestly say that I couldn't see the point of telling a strange doctor what my drinking habits were as my own doctor knows the truth anyway. Silly I know but I was tired when I was being questioned and I really couldn't be bothered. The Junior Doctor himself really couldn't be bothered either, I could sense it.
I did tell the truth about not smoking though.
Silly I know but I was tired when I was being questioned and I really couldn't be bothered. The Junior Doctor himself really couldn't be bothered either, I could sense it.
I did tell the truth about not smoking though.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 May 10
Well, that's true. As for me, I was interviewed really early on in the morning so I wasn't thinking straight anyway. If there is any comeback (which I doubt) I will say that I thought he meant daily units, not weekly, which is actually correct in that case lol.
@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
3 May 10
if you ever lied to your doctor then nothing will happen to your diseases it will just make complicated then..for what reason you ever lied...you will waste your hospital bills then you are not telling the truth..It's a waste of time admitting to the hospital and checked-up.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 May 10
It was only a little white lie my friend, nothing substantial. I wasn't "billed" for staying in hospital as it's free under the NHS over here. I never lied about what I was suffering from, I wouldn't do that.
@kaylachan (71958)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 May 10
I don't drink, never have never will. My partner George on the other hand is someone I wish wouldn't. But, that's another speach for another time.
Personally I'm very good about answering questions the doctors ask of me. Though some have made me want to slap them for their commments.
@p3ks626 (6538)
• Philippines
3 May 10
When I was in medical school, we had a subject about patient and doctor relations. In that class I learned that a doctor has to be somebody whom the patient can trust and tell everything especially about health and other health concerns. I understand that there are some patients who are a bit hesitant to tell their doctors about their situation for reasons I know not. But it is always helpful if patients would tell everything to the doctor. And doctors should be professional enough to every information that the patient wants to be kept in secret or in private.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 May 10
Oh yes, I do know what you mean. However, women especially may be reluctant to go on about stuff "down below" as they are shy. I know I am! Fortunately, though I can have a womb scan the next time I am summoned into hospital so, hopefully, nothing will have to go on internally, if you get my drift.
I will have to wait until tomorrow to get answers about my treadmill test as - get this - all consultants are off work today because it's a Bank Holiday! It would be tough luck if anyone came into the hospital yesterday...they will have to wait until tomorrow now to be seen! Incredible this country at times!
