Out of curiosity

fymk SG

I have been reading some stuff inside and I was wondering which of you moderators are actually registered medical and healthcare professionals ( i.e. Singapore/UK/Australia/USA/Worldwide) . Some makes sense giving advice but some don't ( I shall not say who)

Just out of my curiosity . No need to worry because I don't even know your real names.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I am not. I student nia. I trust the moderators here. Wink

fymk SG

You can trust them no problem . But if some simpleton actually really takes some of the advice seriously given by any of the moderators as qualified advice, and something happens really wrongly - the moderators are actually liable for giving the wrong advice as well as the whole sgforum, and if any of them are registered - they can lose their registration as well . I saw the query section of taking age and questions and some history as well as PMs- frankly that is dangerous - you need to be able to palpate , ascultate the patient , see them in person before even giving a diagnosis or even a differential diagnosis.

For example , A panic attack can show the symptoms of a heart attack , and a heart attack in a person with panic attacks can be REAL. You need an ECG , CK/TROP serials to actually make a diagnosis . Not guess from the question put forth. Even telemedicine has its limits - paramedics get the call and they HAVE to go see the person to ascertain if it is life threatening or not.

Asking for clarification on medical problems is fine . Certainly not giving the public wrong information , like in the BCG column . Any practitioner will know BCG is effective in preventing TB meningitis and miliary disease in children but not in the cases of adult pulmonary tb and we have one moderator who and I quote

Yes, it's against TB. BCG vaccination has been shown to give 70%-80% protection against TB. Atleast in the past time. If the effectivness would be only 5%, it wouldn't help to lower the number of TB cases so drastically in all countries where this vaccination has been used.

Nowdays new and resistant strains of TB appear, it can be that those are resistant even against this vaccination.

That is wrong - VERY WRONG. MDR TB is resistant to the TB drugs , rifampicin , streptomycin etc - it cannot be assumed to be resistant against the vax . BCG can be assumed to have been paramount in protecting children against TB meningitis but not adults. Even it has varying protection in individuals ( 0-76%) and no one actually knows why. It was sanitation , medication and healthcare access as well as nutrition that helped curbed TB down. In USA , they have a problem with MDR TB but it cannot be assumed that the vaccine is ineffective against TB. It is medication non compliance , poor healthcare access ( they use HMOs there and poor don't get much healthcare) as well as HIV ( due to poor immune system of an individual - bacterial growth heaven is there) . It can be due to other strains but they won't be new and resistant - it is a varying genome in the bacteria in parts of the world. Check the CDC site if you don't believe it.

There should be a disclaimer about them not being responsible should people take them seriously and to actually see a qualified doctor if they feel something is really wrong . I understand it is out of their kindness they want to help people in their health but sometimes , no good deed goes unpunished.

Just legalities .

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Shocked

Panic attacks can be symptoms of heart attack? I may be a student, but the small little medical booklets I have at home (given free by RC) never say so. I know that palpitations is associated with panic attacks as well as heart attacks, but you make it sound so serious.

About guessing from the question that forumers put forth, I don't think so. They ask us questions then we answer them. It took a few pages for them to diagnose that I was suffering from panic attacks.

fymk SG

I said Panic attacks can show the symptoms of a heart attack - note the word SHOW. Don't need to be nit picky Wink and it means differently from what u implied . What I mean is that it can be similar to a heart attack symptoms but it is just a panic attack .

I worked in a hospital dear - there are patients who present with symptoms of a heart attack but actually in the end they did a few serials of ck/trop and ecgs and found it to be panic attacks especially when it starts happening when the patient is stressed or very anxious. Some will get breathless and in actual fact get chestpain radiating all around - yes sometimes they feel palpitations when they are very tachycardic.

I have actually met some patients who were dumb enough to take the advice of forums/internet sites and then waited til their illness worsen to see a doctor . One actually coded once and we have to do CPR and ACLS on him , so it is not funny when u see this for urself . That is why I am concerned.

You can keep medical booklets. It is rare to get a patient who will show symptoms similar to a textbook case.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Paiseh, interpreted your message wrongly.

The moderators here always stressed that reality and textbooks don't always match, and I always keep this in mind. Wink

thinkdifferent SG

In one of the virtual clinic threads I gave an asnwer on BCGs, it was ndmmxiaomayi who asked if it her sis who is 12 and not vaccinated should get the vaccine. BCGs are meant for infants. ndmmxiaomayi you remember it right? I think it's in virtual clinic 4, not sure. If you have the time, could you find the site?

We give explanations and advices but no orders and usually ask the forumers who have some problems to check with their doc anyway. This isn't forum for a cure.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Yup. fymk wait a while. I go find back the post.

Found it.

Here

The moderators don't anyhow post one. I always double check with doctors from TTSH, because my grandma goes for regular checkups. Then I shun bian ask also. Wink

fymk SG

I know renorenal may be in medical/healthcare line or maybe a student there ( I dunno) because of how he posts the answers .... and he was the one who posted , not thinkdifferent. Just not sure about one who don't seem credible especially when they go ask mommy . That credibility goes to squashed when wrong info is given and it reflects on others who could be possibility qualified to give a healthcare q&a .

Now that is dangerous to have someone who is unqualified and checking google or parents for answers. Even some of the former patients I met in hospital can google and talk like they know everything when they never consider other factors.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Somehow, I feel that you are just another clone of mentallyimpaired.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. They have already said that this is not a forum for cures.

fymk SG

A pot calling the kettle black . I love that . Flame war now ? Oh please.

Maybe you should comprehend more carefully what I have had written and who I am directing the questions to . I directed it to moderators , not the forum readers/questioners here. So why are you even answering on their behalf?

If I want to say anything , I won't be using a clone to hide behind , like some others . I say it on my own membership name - one of the forumners know me well in person . I am not gutless to use a clone or go boohooing about someone who takes apart my argument . If you have something worthwhile to discuss - discuss it or butt out.

You can even ask the administrators to check my ip address and see if I am a clone. Don't need to get worked up over this small thing which does not even concern you in the first place unless you are directly affected . I don't see a moderator title tagged to you.

fymk SG

Like it or not , it will be an issue of information and public safety . Even mayo clinic has a disclaimer on its website. This one doesn't have a huge public disclaimer as required by any reputable practitioner who does medical Q & A . The virtual clinic already suggests that this forum is ran by qualified medical /healthcare professionals . I don't even think thinkdifferent is qualified to even answer some of the questions - judging by her answers and plus the mommy thing . For the rest of the moderators, I have fair enough a respect for how they answer , like renorenal . But I think he may need to put up a disclaimer to protect himself , just in case another moderator makes a big boohoo of an answer.

I am just asking about the credentials of the moderators who are taking on questions which is way beyond the scope of a layman . You might as well take the advice of the local gossip /fishmonger if you cannot establish who the moderators are.

Like it or not , there might actually be a someone who actually may take advice as a diagnosis here . Not everyone will approach a doctor at all times. I am questioning this forum because I am concerned as a member of the public and I seen some patients WHO actually believed somethings said on other websites - it is patient safety I am talking about. Who wants that on their conscience?

I work in the healthcare industry long enough to know what is going on and how certain patients take the internet seriously enough to endanger their lives .

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Pot calling kettle black?? Rolling Eyes

Since you said you directed it to them, most likely something bad. Already one is not coming to the forum. Why can't the Internet be peaceful?

I don't have a right to check your IP address. In fact, it is against computer ethics to do so. Though I am not working, I know the ethics of the computer world, much like you doctors have medical ethics to follow. Asking me to check IP address to be sure that you are not a clone is not right. Everyone has their right to privacy. That's the good thing about Internet.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

If one chooses to do so, he only has himself to be blamed. That's what I have to say. Even over the counter drugs also warn you to consult a doctor before taking. This applies to forums as well.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

You seem to have quite a lot of free time despite being a doctor. The rest of them, I only see them at night. Really makes me wonder if you are really one. Rolling Eyes

shade343 SG

I agree with fymk. There should be a disclaimer posted here after every medical advise given by the moderators to protect and imdemnify themselves. I know that the moderator's intentions are good, but there are certain things which may be beyond their control.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Disclaimer right at the top, below the Road Health Center link

A place for health doubts, not ultimate remedies

No idea why people don't read it.

shade343 SG

I dont think thats considered a proper and accurate disclaimer?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Maybe you are right. But to me, it's clear that one should still seek medical advice from a doctor.

fymk SG

No need for personal attacks here .

I am not a doctor and even if I am one - doctors do have off days .

I am only a simple registered nurse who can only point out errors in an unqualified moderator's answers - thinkdifferent .

I worked long enough to see how people use the internet and take wrong advice. I have been seeing patients who have delayed seeing the doctor because they thought they had a mild ailment .

Some of these people are educated and they didn't bother to go to the doctors because they thought it was minor . There is this case I always remember - one of them died in a code blue on us - we resuscitated him for full 45 minutes before it was called off by ICU reg . Of course according to what he told me when he was alive a few days before, he followed another website by his own choice ( he was telling me why he didn't see a doctor earlier) but it was some site which claimed that someone was a qualified medical practitioner - NO DISCLAIMER AT ALL .

When I saw this website - I was thinking OH NO another one. yes we have freedom of information but people should be responsible for what they say or at least put a visible disclaimer that to see a doctor if the problem does not resolve in a week .

Now is it not reasonable to question credentials or at least put up a disclaimer?