Gimpy Mumpy

"This indecision’s bugging me"...

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
-The Clash
Ah, that fatefull question. Should I stay home and try to sleep it off or should I go to the emergency department at the hospital and try to bring total strangers up-to-date on years of crip ailments? I injured myself with an overly aggressive physical therapy session today and have been unable to walk on my own or navigate stairs since.  I think my hip may be dislocated but can't be sure without some medical attention and of course my physical therapy office did not call me back and now it's Friday night.  Oh, and I was told yesterday that my primary care doctor that I've been with for that past few months was just a temp (oh sorry did we forget to inform you?) and is gone by the end of the month.  So much for continuity of care.  Grrrrr.......
I really hate starting over with strangers.  There is just too much medical ground to cover and I just do not have the engery to go through it all anymore. 

BBC Ouch Disability Podcast

This week's Disability Buzz. 
The beeb has launched the BBC Ouch Disability Podcast!  This podcast is fantastic and easy to use.  The first edition of The Ouch Podcast was hosted by comedian Liz Carr and actor Matt Fraser.

PT = AFK

Gimpy Mumpy,
admitted Gimp Geek Gamer Girl,
has been surprised by the dust gathering on her keyboard lately.  The reason?  Physical/Physio therapy. 
PT = AFK is born.
PT = AFK Gear can now be found over at the PT = AFK Cafepress Store.  Enjoy!

"An alarming trend" When the School is the Bully

The question, "Who rules the medicine cabinet?" a child's parents or their school gained greater attention this week when the suspension of a 12-year old Canadian boy because his mother discontinued his Ritalin medication sparked a class action lawsuit.

The article above demonstrates a growing problem however I was most struck by teachers and other school officials overstepping the boundaries of their training (a bit like the strangers that stop me on the street and ask if I've tried some wacky therapy or treatment). 

"In one instance documented by his group, he said, "the parent was told by his son's teacher that his son had problems with the neurons in his brain." The parent responded: "Are you a doctor?"

Wrong-Site Surgery

Wrong-site surgery continues to be a problem.  This article about a recent case of a surgeon opening the wrong side of a child's skull when attempting to remove a brain tumor goes on to provide a fairly exhaustive look at the problem.  What angers me is that these mistakes are entirely preventable.  Unfortunately I believe these mistakes will continue to happen so long as medical practice is treated as a for-profit industry.  So long as medical staff are forced to work unhealthy long hours and patients are forced through the assembly line of care with emphasis on maximum number of patients seen per day wrong-site surgeries and other medical mishaps will happen. 
I also couldn't help but notice that in the article that the mistake was not noted in the child's medical chart. I know of this practice happening to other people and of the patients and their families not being notified until the mistake had nearly killed them.  Doctor's need to stop watching their behinds and begin focusing on the wellbeing of their patients.  Grrrr......

April Fools

April Gimpy Mumpy cartoon as featured in the CWD 2006 wall calender found at the CWD: Crip World Domination Store.