What was he thinking?
So I am on this IF forum...which is ran by a rather famous clinic, that has offices in maybe 7 major areas in the US. Each clinic has its own forum which is moderated by a RE that works in that office.
One of the doctors, at one of these clinics, often pushes his book at the infertility patients on this forum. So I ordered it today, because he said it would tell me what sorts of vitamins I should be eating as an infertility patient. Well, today it finally arrived. Imagine my shock and unhappiness as I opened the book only to see page after page of recommendations for women who are already pregnant. No, seriously, the ENTIRE BOOK is for pregnant women, not IF patients. Nothing for us at all. My heart sunk. What was he thinking?
Mind you, most of these patients are infertility patients who have gone through a great deal of heartache, loss, failures, you name it. You don't dare mention you are pregnant without a caveat in your post title.
I felt that this doctor was rather insensitive to push this book at patients who are in the throes of attempting pregnancy. The title:P*rf*ct H@rm@ne B@l@nc# f0r Pr@gn@ncy made me think that it was for women who are TRYING to get pregnant. NOT for those that are already pregnant.
And actually, the reason I wanted this book is that as an immune patient I have a need for extra vitamins, specifically calcium, vitamin D, fish oils, etc. I was hoping to get updated insights on how much I should be taking to get maximum benefits. Unfortunately, he wrote a single PARAGRAPH on immune issues and all he spoke of were -Rh issues. OMFG. Rh issues are genetically passed...immune issues can be but often are not. I felt that the subject of Rh issues shouldn't even be here but in another category entirely. What can I say?
I went and visited the forum today and tried very politely to let the doctor know that I was a bit upset over the type of book that wound up arriving today. I asked him to please warn patients of the subject matter of the book.
Come on, would you tell an infertility patient who has experienced recurrent failure or loss to go out and buy "What to expect when you're expecting"? You wouldn't. It would be considered callous and insensitive.
I know I'm being a bit sensitive about this, but I felt that he was so very wrong to have pushed such a book on the forum without warning.
I know just what to do though. When I go to see my IF doctor, this week or next, I'll offer to donate it to the office's waiting room. If they say it wouldn't be appropriate (and we know it's not) I'll let them know that the doctor that wrote it, who works in a sister clinic, is promoting it on his clinic's forum (which is so closely tied to the other clinics that it's hard to separate them out). Maybe that is the easiest way to let them know of its inappropriateness without beating them over the head with it. Seriously, I won't be reading it. There's nothing in it for me. Not a blessed thing.
What do you think about this? Any thoughts?
Labels: Insensitive Doctors
Comments on "What was he thinking?"
What a big jerk to promote his book at any cost - no thought about the effect it might have! I hope you tell him plainly that was just not kind.
Also, very interested in your low iron issues, I too have often been slightly anemic, but I don't know what my actual levels are. Will check this out before my HOPEFULLY January cycle. Thanks!