Short Term Gain and Long Term Losses

It is not the standard of care to perform a bone density test on a woman that has:
1) had multiple broken bones in adulthood
2) received numerous steroid blocks spine blocks
3) gone through menopause at an early age
4) now facing cervical spine surgery at age 57.

All of the above were indicators that were ignored prior to my spine surgery in 2004.

Should it be the "standard of care" know that all of these factors play a significant role in the bone density of a woman past the age of 50? I think so.

Our local hospital began doing bone density tests in 2000. Articles have been published nationwide regarding the factors listed above that make women a high risk in developing osteoporosis. This past week I went for my yearly density test and find that 7 years after beginning the testing that there is now a simple form to be filled out by the patient on bone health. A one page form that is filled out by the patient that would trigger any "red flags" regarding the known risk factors mentioned above.

It should come to no surprise to anyone that when I underwent surgery at age 57 that my bones resembled swiss cheese. The surgeon was unable to anchor the screws into my bones with any certainty that they would hold and stated later during the day or surgery. Two weeks following the surgery the screws shifted and the surgery collapsed.

Who exactly given my background is in error? My GP that had never ordered a bone density? The surgeon who operated not knowing the condition of my bones? Why is it not within the "standard of care" 10 years after knowing the factors contributing to osteoporosis?

Of course, immediately I was sent for a bone density test. This was only after the collapse of the surgery and after the surgeon had continued to perform the surgery after witnessing the state of the bones. The bone density showed severe osteoporosis.

Why then would a surgeon proceed with the surgery? Would you remove a gall bladder from a patient that once you opened them was shown to have cancer? Why would you risk the shifting of these screws and immediately want to schedule another surgery to "stabilize" the first?

The only answer I can come up with is money! You get paid twice for two surgeries! There is no warranty on you errors. The surgeon will never say "this one is on me" and I will not bill the insurance company twice since this was my fault!

If he had simply closed the incision and stated that my bones were not good enough to perform the intended surgery, would he have not gotten paid to do the surgery? Probably not.

Meanwhile, the screws have shifted into adjacent disc spaces and as the bones worsen with age will become more and more of a problem. I live with being one fall away from not walking.

Where does the best interest of the patient play a more important role than money? What about the Hippocratic oath?

I vote for bone density test to be performed prior to any spine surgery and that become the National Standard of Care adopted by the AMA.

Mary Riggs is the Owner of Cute as a Bug Boutique in Hickory, NC http://www.cuteasabug.biz

The Benefits of Balance Transfer Credit Cards
People who want to simplify their finances by merging all of their credit card account balances into one single account should get balance transfer credit cards. A person can gain control of his or her finances by simplifying the process of paying his or her debts. A person may also save money because these credit cards offer competitive interest r...

Find Prosperity Through Financial Goals
There is a quote by an anonymous writer that says, Goals are as essential to success as air is to life. This statement is especially relevant to financial success and how it relates to financial goals. The way to succeed financially is to frequently set and accomplish personal finance goals.The problem is when most people hear or read the words per...

Debt Consolidation Loan For Payday Loan Debts
In the last few years, the debt consolidation loan has emerged as a great solution for those who have got trapped in different kinds of debts. In most cases, it has been found that people misused the various financial tools and ended up being drowned in huge piles of debts. Earlier, it was credit cards, and now a new kind of debt is killing the fin...

Playing the Balance Transfer Game
Every day when you go to the mailbox there it is: another offer from a credit card company to transfer your high interest account to a lower or 0% rate with a different card. Should you take this offer? Can you lift the nagging burden of monthly fees, compound interest, and a heavy debt load by transferring your balance? The answer is a resounding ...

Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
The purpose of business is to generate maximum returns for its owners and shareholders. So therefore should the business pursue all activities that enhance profitability and increase the value of the business for the owners and / or shareholders?I also believe that a business should behave ethically in achieving the above purpose. It is not right j...

PPC Advertising: On the Road to Organic Traffic
I have always been an advocate of using Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising as a short-term solution to a long-term objective. The use of a fully optimized site is a vitally important part of site growth and reasonable organic traffic.This thought is borne out in a finding by WebSideStory that indicates that PPC advertising provided a conversion rate o...

PPC Advertising: Paving the Way
Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising is a sort-term marketing strategy. What I mean by that is when you use this strategy you are looking to ramp up site visitation and you are willing to use marketing capital to assist in the goal.When you stop using PPC advertising the result may be a decline in online sales.PPC Advertising = Short-Term SalesYou need ...