Comments on: On great cases and interesting cases http://www.medrants.com/archives/2299 Internal medicine, American health care, and especially medical education Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.medrants.com/archives/2299/comment-page-1#comment-14532 John Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:49:35 +0000 http://medrants.com/archives/2005/03/11/on-great-cases-and-interesting-cases/#comment-14532 My sister was an "interesting case" during the 18 months it took her to die in the late 1970's. It was the first time we'd ever heard the phrase and instinctively we resented it. Over those 18 months, we developed decidedly mixed feelings about it as she didn't have health insurance and we came to understand that she got the extensive care she did because she was an "interesting case." In retrospect, I well understand the charge and the learning that comes from a challenge and that's softened my attitude a bit. But I've never forgotten and she never got the chance. My sister was an “interesting case” during the 18 months it took her to die in the late 1970′s. It was the first time we’d ever heard the phrase and instinctively we resented it. Over those 18 months, we developed decidedly mixed feelings about it as she didn’t have health insurance and we came to understand that she got the extensive care she did because she was an “interesting case.”

In retrospect, I well understand the charge and the learning that comes from a challenge and that’s softened my attitude a bit. But I’ve never forgotten and she never got the chance.

]]> By: June M. http://www.medrants.com/archives/2299/comment-page-1#comment-14530 June M. Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:32:16 +0000 http://medrants.com/archives/2005/03/11/on-great-cases-and-interesting-cases/#comment-14530 Its the "great cases" that keep us learning and reaching out of the boundaries of the ordinary. Its the “great cases” that keep us learning and reaching out of the boundaries of the ordinary.

]]> By: charles http://www.medrants.com/archives/2299/comment-page-1#comment-14165 charles Sat, 12 Mar 2005 05:36:56 +0000 http://medrants.com/archives/2005/03/11/on-great-cases-and-interesting-cases/#comment-14165 you've captured that guilty pleasure well. in the several moments where my family members have been sick with oddities i am reminded of how terrifying it is to be among the "great cases." but on the flipside they do make for good teaching and stimulation. you’ve captured that guilty pleasure well. in the several moments where my family members have been sick with oddities i am reminded of how terrifying it is to be among the “great cases.” but on the flipside they do make for good teaching and stimulation.

]]> By: GasPundit http://www.medrants.com/archives/2299/comment-page-1#comment-14088 GasPundit Fri, 11 Mar 2005 16:50:28 +0000 http://medrants.com/archives/2005/03/11/on-great-cases-and-interesting-cases/#comment-14088 How well does this portray into surgical cases? I find the use of the noun "case" in surgery is a bit more fitting, less dehumanizing, since it is the procedure itself being described. I guess great anesthesiology cases would be those where the anesthetic makes an unusually significant, and perhaps preoperatively unexpected, change in the patient's outcome. How well does this portray into surgical cases? I find the use of the noun “case” in surgery is a bit more fitting, less dehumanizing, since it is the procedure itself being described. I guess great anesthesiology cases would be those where the anesthetic makes an unusually significant, and perhaps preoperatively unexpected, change in the patient’s outcome.

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