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Rip Van Winkle

Posted by Dr. Jonathan Fotheringham, MB on May 19, 2001 at 12:41:42:

In Reply to: Re: Driving Permit posted by rip van winkel on May 19, 2001 at 04:24:12:

Rip Van Winkle,
I can assure you that due to my Narcolepsy I was often belittled and criticized for my choice to go into medicine.
Would you really feel uncomfortable with my services as a sleep specialist?
Now, perhaps, as a surgeon, I can see your concern. I have not had any trace of Cataplexy in over 15 years, and saved countless lives in the ER. I was the Associate Chief of Emergency Medicine at a major hospital in London. Performed thousands of surgeries, and never lost one patient due to my Narcolepsy. In the ER, patients didn't have the choice of being comfortable with me as a Narcoleptic or not, I was there to save their life, or do my damn best, and I never disappointed. But as a practitioner of sleep medicine, I don't see why a patient would be uncomfortable with that at all? I'm not holding a scalpel while reading over their MSLT results, or talking about brain surgery. My choice to leave Emergency Medicine was mine alone, and one that had more to do with my family (wanting to spend more time with my wife and 4 children) than anything else.
I know you can't just brush off this disorder and say "well, if you try hard enough you can do anything"... that would be nothing but bluster and false hopes.
If I ever had a patient who didn't want me as their surgeon because I was a Narcoleptic, I wouldn't want them as a patient because of their ignorance and small mindedness. Obviously my services are regulated by governing bodies, and like any other doctor goes through his fair share of evaluations and tests (even more so due to N). Passed them all with flying colours, and have been congratulated on my work with other hospitals to find a cure, or better treatment for Narcolepsy.

If I were to take your advice, and not practice medicine, that there is one less competent physician, with an intimate and personal knowledge of Narcolepsy, who is out there trying to find a way to help.

Good Day,
Jonathan Fotheringham, MB




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