An editorial comment...

Sudiegirl sez:

I received a comment on the "OB/GYN" post with the usual insertions from a colleague of the doctor in question. He did say a few things that were kind of snotty, but because we do have a Constitution in this country that allows free speech, I'm cool with that. He has his opinion, and I have mine.

However, he made some comments that kind of pissed me off. He asked me how many babies I'd saved, how many people I'd cured of cancer, and how many lives I'd touched. Well, that honked me off, because to me, these concepts can be very broad. Let me explain what I mean.

1. "How many babies have I saved?" Well, I'm not a doctor...I haven't saved any babies in the medical sense. However, there's much more in life than that. Part of saving a baby is making sure they're loved, safe, and warm. I've done that with at least three babies in my life: my sister's three children. In smaller ways, I have done that with my cousins and the children of my friends. Saving is a very wide area, and I'd like to think I've done my share and hope to do more.

2. "How many people have I cured of cancer?" Well, none, if you look at it from a purely medical standpoint. But there's more to cancer than malignant cells. My father is a cancer patient, and in addition to the physical illness, there was a certain amount of comfort, patience, love and acceptance required and I believe I did my share in that arena as well. Also, I helped support my cousin while her oldest child was dying of cystic fibrosis. Whether this doctor has ever been there for someone emotionally or not is not something I can debate, but I can state what I've done, and I'm not ashamed.

3. "How many lives have I touched?" Well, I have friends, my family loves me, and I have a wonderful life partner in Doug. Also, I have sung in many venues as an amateur, and the most fulfilling ones are when we sing for retirement homes where many of the patients are shut-ins and don't get out much. I've had many older folks take my hand when I'm singing for them, and they're so happy we thought of them and that we're playing the music they remember. So I'd say I've touched several lives without a stethoscope.

So in closing, I'm not angry at this doctor for standing up for a colleague. That's what you're supposed to do. However, keep in mind that when you ask questions like this, you are going to have to accept broader definitions.

And that's the way it is, baby.

Sudiegirl

****update****

I received a very nice and thoughtful reply to my rebuttal, and it really opened my eyes. Therefore, in the interest of fair play, I am removing the "OB/GYN" post because (a) it wasn't funny, and (b) it wasn't fair.

What I try to do on this blog is point out things that might be biased, incomplete, or just plain stupid to pay attention to, but yet we do so anyway. My comments about this doctor were the very thing that make me angry, and I was so obsessed with entering a post that I didn't think about repercussions.

At any rate, if you go looking for the "OB/GYN" post, it won't be there, and I apologize, but I think it's only fair.

Thank you so much for reading my posts, however weird they may be!

Sincerely

Sudiegirl

"everyone's favorite bipolar redhead"