BlackSpinner wrote:
But diabetics test their blood 4 times a day if not more and inject insulin - why can they be responsible for their therapy and we, who only suck air, are considered incompetent. My 80+ mother did it until her last mini stroke, long after we took away her drivers license.
Diabetes is one case where doctors simply have no choice - you can't go to a doctor/nurse twice or more a day, everyday; and sometimes you won't even have the time. Although, their situation seems simpler: high glucose - inject insulin, low glucose - eat sugar. Analyzing CPAP data is more of a black art, I mean, how many doctors and DME know how to really read that?
I was quite surprised when I talked to my ENT about my turbinate coblation (he also started the OSA treatment and was the referring doctor for the CPAP) and he said that few people are like me, most don't even want to know, but want to just receive the treatment "shrink-wrapped" from their doctor.
I think we should be given the choice - if you want to take matters in your own hands, sign an agreement/release and be allowed to do what you want. But your rights to seek responsibility from your doctors will be limited. In many countries in Europe you can walk into a pharmacy and buy just about any medication you want; prescriptions are only required for narcotics. But try suing a doctor (or pharmacist) for malpractice - good luck with that! They need to have done you some serious wrong for you to even have a chance. Medicine there is a lot less restrictive than here (we've all heard how new drugs come out there first). We could have the option: if you want to hold your doctor responsible, than keep things the way they are now (although I think it's too extreme); if you want to take control, sign a release and swing away!
McSleepy
ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto; Puritan-Bennett Breeze nasal pillow mask; healthy, active, middle-aged man; tall, athletic build; stomach sleeper; on CPAP since 2003; lives @ 5000 ft; surgically-corrected deviated septum and turbinates; regular nasal washes