Doctors

A radiologist (not to be confused with radiologist technician) falls under the category of physician. Thus, the following.

The common path to practicing as a physician requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3 to 8 additional years of internship and residency. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. Education and training. Formal education and training requirements for physicians are among the most demanding of any occupation-4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty selected. A few medical schools offer combined undergraduate and medical school programs that last 6 years rather than the customary 8 years. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. Students also take courses in the humanities and the social sciences. Some students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions. The minimum educational requirement for entry into medical school is 3 years of college; most applicants, however, have at least a bachelor's degree, and many have advanced degrees. There are 146 medical schools in the United States-126 teach allopathic medicine and award a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree; 20 teach osteopathic medicine and award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive. Applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test, and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant's character, personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require an interview with members of the admissions committee. Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, microbiology, pathology, medical ethics, and laws governing medicine. They also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. During their last 2 years, students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics, learning acute, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in the diagnosis and treatment of illness. Following medical school, almost all M.D.s enter a residency-graduate medical education in a specialty that takes the form of paid on-the-job training, usually in a hospital. Most D.O.s serve a 12-month rotating internship after graduation and before entering a residency, which may last 2 to 6 years. A physician's training is costly. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2004 more than 80 percent of medical school graduates were in debt for educational expenses. Licensure and certification. All States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians. To be licensed, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete 1 to 7 years of graduate medical education. Although physicians licensed in one State usually can get a license to practice in another without further examination, some States limit reciprocity. Graduates of foreign medical schools generally can qualify for licensure after passing an examination and completing a U.S. residency. M.D.s and D.O.s seeking board certification in a specialty may spend up to 7 years in residency training, depending on the specialty. A final examination immediately after residency or after 1 or 2 years of practice also is necessary for certification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The ABMS represents 24 boards related to medical specialties ranging from allergy and immunology to urology. The AOA has approved 18 specialty boards, ranging from anesthesiology to surgery. For certification in a subspecialty, physicians usually need another 1 to 2 years of residency. Other qualifications. People who wish to become physicians must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances. Advancement. Some physicians and surgeons advance by gaining expertise in specialties and subspecialties and by developing a reputation for excellence among their peers and patients. Many physicians and surgeons start their own practice or join a group practice. Others teach residents and other new doctors, and some advance to supervisory and managerial roles in hospitals, clinics, and other settings. For the source and more detailed information concerning this subject, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated below.

DACBR stands for Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Radiology. This denotes a doctor of chiropractic who also has a board-certified specialty in diagnostic imaging. A chiropractor who has DACBR status will have:

- 4 year undergraduate college/university degree

- 4 year doctorate in chiropractic

- 3 year postgraduate radiology residency

The chiropractic radiologist is thus a graduate doctor of chiropractic who has completed additional postgraduate specialty education. Many chiropractic colleges throughout the world offer formal, 3-year radiology residency programs for chiropractic radiologists. Entrance into such residencies require applicants to hold a doctor of chiropractic degree (D.C.), as well as successfully passing a pre-residency admission examination. The residency involves intense didactic education in all forms of diagnostic imaging. Each semester is usually devoted to imaging of one major system, and often many semesters are needed to cover an entire topic. The resident also participates in educational programs at various off site imaging facilities at teaching medical hospitals, private imaging facilities, medical grand rounds, and private tutorials.

Interestingly, a recent study revealed that chiropractic trained radiologists were equally as effective at reading radiographs as medical trained radiologists:

Reliability and Validity of Lumbosacral Spine Radiograph Reading by Chiropractors, Chiropractic Radiologists, and Medical Radiologists. Spine. 2002. Volume 27, Issue 17, pp 1926-1933

This is my opinion, but it sounds like either a very lazy physician or one who doesn't practice with much sensitivity! It almost sounds like the detached-attitude during 'squat-spread-and cough' exams in prisons. Even a prostate exam for a male does NOT include bending over and spreading butt cheeks!

Typically, to examine the anus and rectum, a woman lies on her side, one buttock is lifted and a gloved finger may be inserted into the anus for a stool exam. A gyne does the rectal exam while the woman is lying on her back with feet in the stirrups. ALSO, for professional and patient safety, a NURSE should be present!

Whoever did this emotionally violated your personal boundaries. However.... the doctor may be able to successfully defend his actions to the State Medical Board. Besides being embarrassing to discuss, you'd have to put your complaint in writing AND perhaps go through more "trauma" to get any justice. PLUS, you likely will not be told IF they took action against the doctor. So it is often a dissatisfying outcome.

Your options:

1. Report it to the Police. Why-- You will make a record and there may be a way to bring charges that way.
2. Complain to the Director of the clinic or hospital. However, don't expect that place to ever treat you again.
3. Call the State Medical Board and request complaint forms. Let them investigate.
4. Discuss the case with an Attorney of Law.

TO ALL PATIENTS:: If you are uncomfortable about an exam a doctor wants to do, especially if you are asked to do something that just doesn't sound correct to do---- you do NOT have to consent to it ! In fact, ANY patient can say NO to ANY part of ANY physical exam. (You may face consequences in some circumstances; for example, a doctor might refuse to see you again.)

IF you state "I do not want you to touch me" but the doctor touches you anyway, it can be a tort (a legal offense). This refusal should ONLY be used if what you are asked to do or what a medical person (doctor or nurse) is doing to your body seems totally outside of normal practices OR that it makes you extremely uncomfortable. At the point that you say "do not touch me", the exam should stop. The medical staff should try to talk with you and hear why you are refusing. A good doctor will attempt to work through the issue with you. For example: Many rape victims have trouble with exams / touch.

I need to know what type of tumor I have. I believe I have been misdiagnosed

I have all the symptoms of a sarcoma tumor but, don't really know.

I have been to a vascular surgeon and they told me that I have a hemangioma

tumor but was not born with a strawberry birthmark and do not have the

traditional symptoms of a hemangioma. I need help?

_____________________

ANSWER

Sarcoma is a general term for a malignant tumor of connective tissue. Soft tissue swelling is not 100% indicative of a sarcoma. The first thing I would want to know is whether or not you have pain in the area of soft tissue swelling during the night that keeps you awake. If there is no pain in the area, then you are getting excited about nothing, it is likely benign as the surgeon suggested. Another indication of something that may be malignant is whether or not it is changing. Have you noticed the mass getting bigger? or new masses showing up? If you do have pain even when you are resting, or if the mass is changing (growing or multiplying) then you go to the next step, have imaging done on the area. A malignant tumor will have very characteristic signs that a doctor will be able to identify.

Besides what I have mentioned, there is not much I can tell you based on the limited information you have provided. If imaging has been done and the surgeon has said it is benign, or if there is no pain, then dont stress out.

Note: If you have pain in the area, or if you are concerned that you have been misdiagnosed, then there is nothing wrong with going to another doctor to get a second opinion. In fact, it may be a good idea to ease you mind, as stress is very unhealthy. If a second opinion can reduce your stress than that would definitely be my suggestion.