Doc (Pap),
“the uterus sideways” and no action, not another word about it strikes me as strange. (If you mentioned it, it implies that it’s abnormal; if it’s normal, say so.) And the fact that he palpated the uterus in the first place. And the fact that a GP, seeing a patient for “stomack pain” of probable GI etiology (stomach problem) found “her uterus sideways”. I never heard of “the sideway uteri”, even do not know what it is meant by “uterine side”. I understand that he “probed” her, but the palpable uterus?
Unlike you, I do not make any assuptions about his religious/philosoohical beliefs (or patient’s). More so, as I do not know much about Confucius. I did not make any diagnoses. I suggested the same thing as somebody else here, who did not look like an M.D. to you. So, I did not do many things (other that shared my thoughts). What was wrong in my posts? That I questioned that doctor? That I went as far as suggested a fibromyoma (after learning that the uterus was in the abdominal cavity and the patient had increased urination frequency)?
We may have different understanding of medical ethitcs, physician’s role in society, etc. We may discuss it elsewhere if you wish. But this MB is as free as it can get (just a few etiquette rules). Ask a question - get an answer. The mods do not ask for diplomas, etc. If you want, read an answer. If you don’t, skip it. It’s very simple, this is the nature of the Net. You can go to pro sites, log in, and get pro info. I trust most of them. I go to many general info sites, read their info with a grain of salt, as I read newspapers. I have different set of rules for a pro medical office. I do not mix my approaches. I definitely would not apply professional stardards here. One of my rules is not to teach others. So, if you have different rules, you can follow them. Once you noted that you agreed with something that I said in a post. On another occasion you disagreed. That’s OK with me. Telling me what to do and what not to do will not bring any results, as you understand. It would be just impolite, that’s all.
Thanks, guys! I consider the question answered… mod please feel free to close this, unless you want to see where the argument goes… 
peace and Dr.Paprika, thanks for the help and for your input! (and peace, I didn’t skip any of your posts! I never do… though maybe I should because several times, in other threads, you’ve caused me to violently eject beer from my nose…)
To clarify one thing: I wasn’t in the examining room, and have no idea if she undressed or not (though I’m sure she would if he told her to… that’s why she’s so reluctant to see a doctor!). Also I have no idea if he palpitated anything (that’s phrase kinda turns me on… I may have to palpitate her myself! 
). He may have simply seen the uterus info. on her chart, for all I know…
I will get her in to see an OB/GYN eventually, but I’m sure that this is no big deal, or the GP that she saw would have done something other than just casually mention it…
Anyways, thanks again guys!
Astroboy, I must say that I like your position. As long I I do not insist on flat Earth, read my posts (and others) and then decide what to do.
Let us know the outcome. Happy palpation!
Clearly, your esophagus is backwards.
Man, I could not resist:
are you making another diagnosis? First, “sideways uterus”, now “backward esophagus”… What’s wrong with this family?
Astroboy, I hope you’ll take these jokes for what they are…
Peace.
I made my original reply to you thinking you were a medical doctor. I do think this is an impression you try to cultivate. If that was the case, then you were in need of being rebuked because your re[ply violated accepted medical ettiquette and accepted medical practice.
You do have the right to your opinions and to post them as per the SDMB, no doubt. You consider this entertainment. I don’t have that luxury – if I choose to respond to a medical question I feel morally bound to give a substantiated opinion. I think most people would expect a medical doctor to give an opinion which incorporates fairly recent research and clinical knowledge. Slackergirl pointed out doctors are often wrong, which is absolutely true. Suggesting the doctor could be wrong is stating a given. I certainly did not feel mad when I read Slackergirl’s letter suggesting she see an OB/GYN. But when Astroboy made it clear he was hoping for advice from a doctor… well many people would not consider advice from a DDS or Dcotor of Hungarian History on the same level; how Astroboy feels is, of course, up to Astroboy.
In tems of your advice, in general you use the right words and you clearly have a fair understanding of basic medical science. Your advice is often good. So is the advice of many others, who have the grace to state their credentials or lack thereof. But insulting GP’s and family doctors for their limited experience is not cricket given that your experience is clearly far more limited. You did point out you did not want to scare Astroboy, then proceded to misinterpret the case and state advice that many people would have found disturbing and would have thought was highly reputable medical advice. And this is hardly the first thread in which you have identified GPs as being inferior to your supreme understanding of all things medical. Doctors, unfortunately, often do deserve their poor public perception. In general, though, they know what they are talking about.
In Canada, you cannot see a specialist (including Internal Medicine or Pediatrics) without seeing a Family doctor first. The diagnosis of the specialist is usually not that different, especially without further tests. That being said, the role of the GP is to arrange proper referral of cases that need it. Specialists here get very upset when healthy patients are referred to them – GPs are expected to know what is going on and they generally do. It is not always possible to make a diagnosis but it is almost always possible to limit it to 3 or 4 possibilities… and this skill is far more valuable than knowing the most likely one, precisely because doctors are so often wrong. It’s harder than you think.
This is hardly the forum for further discussion on this matter and I have no more to say on this anywhere in this board. Please don’t denigrate my profession, though. I will certainly be prepared to comment in great detail if you do.
What?? My esophagus is backwards? And my fiancee’s uterus is sideways? Oh! The humanity!
Astro calls in sick to work, and takes to his bed… in hopes that his fiancee will join him, and they can palpitate each other!
Doc, tx for informing me about the Canadian rules. One incidental question, though: does the rule “See GP first” apply only to state-insured? In other words, can one go straight to a specialist if she pays privately (I realized this is off the thread, but perhaps the mods would allow YES or NO).
I explained what in particular I did not like about that GP (HJGP). I have the right to like or dislike any person in the world, including doctors. I have nothig against doctors as a profession, including GP, and my mistrust of HJGP should not be generalized by you. I already explained my different policies in different situations. I explained what I expected Astroboy to do, but he is a big boy and the decisions are his. Finally, as I explained elsewhere, this site is open to anyone to ask questions and to anyone to answer them. Neither the mods nor Chicago Reader are responsible for the answers. The “use” of the abswers is under no control either. I do not question your expertise and I take you for what you said you are: a young Canadian medical resident. I do not care where you went to medical school or whether your license is full or restricted or whether you are BS or BE, etc.
Again, I respect your opinion and I am not going to argue about it here. If mine is different, I will state so here. I have no control or responsibility over it. Any reader may follow it to the letter or disregard it completely.
I do not want to play a mod here, but take you lectures elsewhere. Astroboy’s fiancee has a “sideways uterus”, he suffers from “upside down” esophagus: he might not be interested in our bickering on his thread.
In Canada it is, broadly speaking, illegal to pay privately and skip the queue. You have the right to dislike anyone you want to, especially Korean GPs you have never met and know nothing about. In accordance with your advice, I have decided not to argue in this thread. I fear I must retract my intention not to discuss you elsewhere.
Thank you for granting me my rights, sir. I told you what I knew about HJGP. It’s possible that my impession of him was unfair. But not because I’ am everything you think I am, because of the way the stoty was perceived by me. If you interpretetion is diffrent, let me know the rational. It is also possible (I do not believe so) that Korean medicine is so different that the doctors deceive patients or employ methods unknown here (e.g., palpate normal uterus on external examination).
Back to Canada: how long is the avarage queue?
I have said everything I needed to say.
To answer your question, average queue lengths are becoming a problem in Canada. In the past, every person had a famly doctor who could refer them to specialists as needed. Since doctors are the second most expensive part of medical payments, the goverment decided to cut way back on the number of medical students they educate. Now, there are not enough family doctors and many patients have to go to an emergency room for referal.
Getting things that need to be done immediately is usually not a problem. The problem comes for fairly urgent operations, hip replacements, elective cardiac surgery - which is important but not life threatening. These waits proably average 6-12 months.
Queue lengths for ultrasounds, gastroscopes, etc. are from 1 day to 4 weeks in my town; probably longer in cities. If you have a family doctor, it can take 3-4 weeks to see them. Our system is good because everybody is publicly insured and drugs are largely paid for. It is falling apart, however, in part due to government mismanagemnt.
It is not up to me to grant you any rights, sir. Anyone has the right to express themselves, as Voltaire sez.
I am very intrested in the Canadian healh care system and would like to open a new thread elsewhere, probably in MPSISM. I think we’d rather stop bickering and wait till Astroboy’s replies and talk about your native country for awhile.
peace and Dr.Paprika… guys, I’m done posting here (thus is my last, I swear!!) I just checked in to see if you guys were still arguing, or if it had gone to the pit, or what…
I thank you both for your input (I would tip my hat, were I wearing one)!
I will get my fiancee to an OB/GYN eventually, just in case, but I’m sure that this is no biggie… the OP was just out of curiosity, not worry.
Anyways, I thank you both for the info/opinions!
Astro bows out quietly, hoping this thread will die a natural and peaceful death before the fiancee looks over his shoulder and says “Muo-ye-yo?” (Korean for “What is that?”), thus getting Astro is a whole BOAT-LOAD of trouble…