I started to blog about this a few days ago when the incident actually happened, however, I really had to cool off just a bit before writing something I would regret. Even as I type this, it is requiring a great deal of restraint not to make demeaning statements regarding my lazy so and so of a patient.
I know, gasp. How can a physician refer to her patient as lazy or a lazy so and so? It is truly the internal struggle I deal with on a daily basis when I am confronted by the patient who asks for . . . . . . . an excuse from work for the duration of their pregnancy.
My response is a simple one. NO YOU CAN WORK.
"But I hurt. I'm tired. My job requires me to stand on my feet, blah blah blah". Bah humbug, cry me a river, seriously. Why does the request for an extended leave of absence bother me, when the patient is only 20 weeks pregnant (aka 5 months)?
It bothers me because if I were to become pregnant right now, I would have to work 80 hours a week (if it's a good week and I'm not violating my work hours), take call for 30 hours, and work until my estimated date of confinement (aka due date) unless experiencing a pregnancy complication. HEALTHY UNCOMPLICATED PREGNANCIES= YOUR %%%%% CAN WORK!
Don't get mad at me, cry, and try to say I'm a bad doctor because I won't committ falsification/ fraud/ mentidas/ lies/ etc and write you an excuse from work when you are perfectly healthy and able to complete your work in some form or fashion.
In my previous residency program, I worked with two pregnant residents who busted their tales day in and day out, operating, standing on their feet, long hours, etc until the day their delivery date. I have another friend in a residency program who was pregnant, again working until EDC. Their is a pregnant resident in my program right now, who again, comes to work each and everyday. . . . are you getting my point?
Pregnancy is NOT a disability! Is it tough? Sure it is, but then again, who told you to get pregnant? Condoms, birth control (IUDs, NuvaRings, pills, etc) all could have kept you from feeling the round ligament pain or the occasional contractions that you believe qualifies you for disability. And if your pregnancy was desired, well now you can experience the joy of pregnancy along with the reward at the end of a long 10 months (yes I said 10, pregnancy is not 9 months). A NORMAL pregnancy is NOT a medical condition, not an illness, not something deadly.
So no! I won't give you off work. Go ahead, tell my chief I'm mean. I'm still not giving you a work excuse. . . oh wait? Are you cursing at me, well let me let you go, afterall, I don't want you to be late for WORK!
Wow, that's crazy. ALot of people ask me when am I going to take my maternity leave and, I tell them when I go into labor. I get responses like DFANG you're going to wait that long!!! Yes, yes I am!! Yes I'm tired EVERYDAY but it's not to where it's disabling... PEOPLE NEED TO GET OVER THINKING PREGNANCY IS AN ILLNESS!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that you should not falsify a " bed rest" or " do not work" prescription..... HOWEVER, I also don't think that a woman should be looked down upon because she CHOOSES not to work during her pregnancy. Life is about choices and if she has the life-style that can afford for her to stay at home during and after her pregnancy (more power to her). Pregnancy is not a Illness or a disability but if a woman makes a choice not to work than its her right to do so..... without any negative judgment from other ( In my humble opinion it seems like we judge women who want to stay at home to harshly).
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Weezie in the fact that if you decide not to work, there is nothing wrong with it, but I don't believe that she (or now a days he after the pregnant man) should expect their physician to write them an excuse from work saying they don't have too if it's not medically indicated. . . .
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