| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Do you trust the doctors you have been to in Korea? |
| Yes, more than the doctors in my home country. |
|
7% |
[ 3 ] |
| Yes, as much as the doctors in my home country. |
|
20% |
[ 8 ] |
| Yes, I got better, but the treatments were different than in my home country. |
|
15% |
[ 6 ] |
| Yes, sort of. I got better, but the treatments were different than in my home country, and I might have gotten better anyhow. |
|
7% |
[ 3 ] |
| No, I did not get better, not sure what the treatments were. The pills were not labeled. |
|
10% |
[ 4 ] |
| No, I did not get better, and the care did not meet the standards of treatment in Western countries. |
|
23% |
[ 9 ] |
| No. I have stopped going to the doctors here. |
|
15% |
[ 6 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 39 |
|
| Author |
Message |
pharflung
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:33 pm Post subject: Do you trust your doctor in Korea? |
 |
|
Please read the options carefully.
I have avoided putting in humorous options because I think this is a relatively serious subject. Our health depends upon this medical care. And in case some view this as carping, I would like to point out that Koreans' health also depends upon this quality of care.
Do you feel you are getting professional, competent medical care?
Does the doctor ask you appropriate questions to find out the nature of your problem?
Does he or she take tests, such as your temperature, blood pressure, X-rays, blood tests, etc., when appropriate?
Does the doctor or pharmacist explain how to take any prescribed medicine and their potential side-effects or risks when combined with other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines?
Or do you think you are getting unnecessary care, unnecessary prescriptions, or placebos, i.e., ineffective medicine intended to make you think your are actually being treated, but are not?
Has anyone found oriental or alternative medicine here to be effective?
Any other tips for getting effective care in Korea?
Please keep in mind that no doctor in any country is going to be able to cure you of every ailment every time. And there are incompetent doctors in every country. So we are looking for a general picture of the medical experience here. Most important, do you trust your doctor? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Do you trust your doctor in Korea? |
|
|
I have had mostly OK experiences here and 1 really silly one.
I got pneumonia last year. Got a chest Xray. I have a big chest and big lungs, am in really good shape, have been doing endurance sports for years, and never smoke.
The doctor got the Xray of my lungs and noticed they look, 'different' than those of most Korean men she treated. She asked me stop smoking. I'm like, "I never smoke, I exercise 15 hour per week". She's like, "OK, but please stop smoking now".  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Doctor's Lifelong License System Needs Check: KIEP
| Quote: |
A state-invested institute has called for the government to scrap the life-long license system for doctors.... In South Korea, once a person becomes a licensed doctor, he or she is able to practice as long as they want, regardless of how competent they are....
Doctors should be required to satisfy a set of evaluation criterion on a regular basis to renew their licenses, a common practice in advanced countries such as the United States and Canada, it said.... |
Lee Hyo-sik, Korea Times (May 12, 2005)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/news_view.asp?newsIdx=2624182
If you've got the money, the doctor pampers you
by Sohn Hae-yong and Lee Min-a, JoongAng Daily (October 6, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2477423
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
| Quote: |
| "A few days ago, the medical bill was over 100 thousand won for a simple treatment for a cold at a hospital. Koreans didn't seem to pay that much and I wonder whether hospitals charge high prices because I am a foreigner." |
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ESL Milk "Everyday
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| They're okay when you have a sore knee and need some pain medication, but not when you have lumps in places where you'd rather not have lumps... they seem to enjoy blurting out things like 'herpes!' and 'STD!' while all of their fellow medical practitioners laugh their aSses off! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I didn't vote because there was no option for "I don't trust doctors in any country." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
endofthewor1d
Joined: 01 Apr 2003
Location: the end of the wor1d.
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bramble wrote: |
| I didn't vote because there was no option for "I don't trust doctors in any country." |
sweet! are you a vegan and a faith healer? that should take you out of the gene pool pretty quickly. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LateBloomer
Joined: 06 May 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Like any other country, there are good doctors, not so good ones and gawd awful ones. In 15 months here...I've had all three. Be careful of the ones who want you to keep coming back every day.
Regarding drug interactions, that's an area of major concern. You often get a bottle of pills with the name (sometimes misspelled) written in felt marker on a bottle. The pharmacist and doctor frequently don't speak English well enough to advise you about drug interactions or the dangers of drinking alcohol with certain drugs. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
I trust the doctors a Yonsei Uni's Severance Hospital's International Clinic. Even when I have to get my yearly public school medical check up and they tell me to go to a certain doctor, I refuse. Severance Hospital costs more, but it's worth it for true Western medicine AND the privacy of not having the school's recommended doctor talking to all the other teachers about me and how good I look naked.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't go because I can self-diagnose. I know that the doctor's advice will be useless. He will tell me to eat kimchi and rice and not to eat bread or drink milk.
Then he'll over medicate me and that's it. Money (despite being cheap, it's not free) out the window.
Last edited by Ilsanman on Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Juregen
Joined: 30 May 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The biggest problem is over medication imho.
I took me 4 doctors until i found one who doesn't describe antibiotics just because my son is coughing.
The one i have now speaks passable English and can give me the English terms for the problem my son is facing. This is a good thing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| I trust the doctors a Yonsei Uni's Severance Hospital's International Clinic. Even when I have to get my yearly public school medical check up and they tell me to go to a certain doctor, I refuse. Severance Hospital costs more, but it's worth it for true Western medicine AND the privacy of not having the school's recommended doctor talking to all the other teachers about me and how good I look naked. |
Yeah. I go to Linton. End o' story. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've got a funny story about Linton:
Was at Yonsei hospital several years ago for a chest ailment. I didn't see Linton at the time (saw the Korean lady doctor) but as I walked out, I spied Linton absolutely REAMING the heck out of a group of nurses -- pointing and shaking his finger, etc.. He had them lined-up in the hallway EXACTLY like a group of high school girls who had been caught smoking. His Korean speech was moving at 100mph, and the tongue-lashing he gave those women was something to behold. I have no idea what they did wrong, but when he left, they looked at each other, took deep breaths, wiped sweat off their foreheads, and had eyes as wide as watermelons.
Hilarious. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bassexpander wrote: |
I've got a funny story about Linton:
Was at Yonsei hospital several years ago for a chest ailment. I didn't see Linton at the time (saw the Korean lady doctor) but as I walked out, I spied Linton absolutely REAMING the heck out of a group of nurses -- pointing and shaking his finger, etc.. He had them lined-up in the hallway EXACTLY like a group of high school girls who had been caught smoking. His Korean speech was moving at 100mph, and the tongue-lashing he gave those women was something to behold. I have no idea what they did wrong, but when he left, they looked at each other, took deep breaths, wiped sweat off their foreheads, and had eyes as wide as watermelons.
Hilarious. |
Ha. I got his autobiography. Its in Korean. I can't read it. Got him to autograph it last time I went to visit. Going to give it to a friend. I like him because he's a teaching doctor. You first get to see his latest student doc. Then he comes in and schools them a bit more. "Did you ask this? Check that?" All 'n' all very interesting. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alyallen
Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Do I trust my doctor in Korea?
Sure. I'm not dead yet  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| What's the going rate for buying a medical degree these days? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
