It’s so true to ask about the qualifications of anyone calling themselves doctor. LL encouraged people to ask, “Doctor of What?”, which brings to mind a situation I encountered…
I hope not to offend anyone or their beliefs, but only to inform people so that they are aware of what is out there and can protect themselves accordingly.
I was driving my car one morning, when I was waved down by a limousine driver. I approached a number of japanese-only speaking crash victims. A few of the victims hit their heads on the roof of the limo during the impact, which immediately raised my concerns about neck and cervical spine injury. Others were moderately injured, but the highest most immediate concern was the people with potential neck injuries, as well as controlling any bleeding (there was only minor oozing- told the limo driver to help them hold direct pressure).
Just as I was trying to intervene, a man shows up, claiming he was a doctor. I told him I was an ER nurse at the hospital down the street. He agressively took over. I immediately pointed out to him the potential c-spine/head injury patients, but he blew me off instead of making note- and had the patients exit the car and walk several feet to a waiting place without even a quick eyeball of the extent of their injuries. The authoratative doctor furthermore directed the limo driver to assist with his interventions. Anyway, it was my observation that this Doctor endangered the neuro patients in his interventions. His actions left me scratching my head, as even medical doctors in other specialties, such as ob/gyn, orthopedics, etc., have the basic medical training to enable them to properly help in similar situations.
Later, after the victims left with the ambulances, I struck up conversation with this know-it-all by asking his specialty. He stated he was a NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN. There is a place for naturopathy, but with his lack of knowledge of trauma-type injuries and medicine, he had no business pushing everyone out of the way and intervening in this situation. Thank goodness no one had a cardiac arrest or worse injuries, I wonder how he would have intervened then (scary)…
I learned a lesson that day. From that day forward, I always ask any “doctor” his or her specialty. Also, with today’s vastly different means of obtaining degrees and training, anywhere from traditional universities to the INTERNET, I always ask questions about where they obtained their undergraduate and medical degrees and where they trained. Good advice for anybody.
