Def some pro's to it, like people in the group bringing up possible issues about treatment they experienced, but not everyone knows about. Would put some doctors in the hot seat, and it would take a special training to facilitate a group firing questions. And what if you got with a group that was afraid to speak up, the ol suffer in silence ones, believing docs can't miss anything etc. Lots of variables here. Now I think we should have virtual groups, maybe small screens showing each persons face. And the flesh and blood doc talks to the main patient, then the virtual group comments or asks questions. Everyone in this group would have the option to have their peers attend, personally it would be comforting knowing I had so many ears helping me out. People with chemo brain would def gain as well as people like me who can't remember their phone number. Sure, my spouse attends visits with me, but we are two peas in a pod, he can't recall what he said yesterday... Medicine in the future.....hmmmmm?

Being in the medical field MD's are not trained to do counseling, or teaching, it is usually the RN that does this. It is the rare Doc that will even consider doing this. Usually any extra informative materials are dragged out of them by the patients constant questioning, and many patients don't question the MD. You would be suprised how many patients will say" he told me ..... but didn't explain it and I don't know what he meant can you explain it to me? Which by the way is the nurses job in giving good patient care.

There's always the old HIPPA laws that would have to be released, lot's of things to think about!

Can you tell I don't like the idea?

yeah rascal I'm thinking you're not down with this one. you're not saying doctors are smart people whose communication skills suck, but I am. So that's a problem. When I think back to some of the docs I've known, I can see this, in the alleged immortal words of Keith Moon, going down like a led zepplin.

But I still see some potential positives. For example: it might combat isolationism. and for the shrinking violets who don't ask questions there are always motormouths like me who never met a question I didn't like.

and at the very least, let's confront the fact that one-on-one, while it sounds like individualized care and the opposite of cattle-call medicine, has its flaws. if it didn't, we wouldn't be looking for new ideas. how many of us have left an office visit more confused than we were before? how many of us don't want to call their doc lest they 'bother' them?

on the other hand, wouldn't it---- in some instances--- be better if there were strength in numbers, and among a group there's at least one person who understood a concept and can explain it, and there's another person who doesn't give a fuck about calling a doctor or his or her office 5, 10, 20 times insisting on an answer

I'm just saying that there's something to this idea. It may not be right for cancer patients-- strike that, it may not be suitable for patients with an aggressive disease, but it could be brilliant for those with an indolent one.

i do like K's idea of the video roundtable ...

You have a point, for those that wouldn't ask questions there would be someone that would and hopefully encourage others to do the same. Strength in numbers would be good for the shrinking violet. I have an advantage on most so I wouldn't leave the office more confused but I see many elderly and young people that do and perhaps the option to do a group discussion on generalities with the patient bringing in their own specific questions would be ok if they chose to attend.

I do a lot of tele-medical appointments and for training purposes that would be ok but older people won't participate unless a question is directed at them and the isolation is still there. New wave medicine! They do a lot of video appointments where I work.

Now to find MD's that want to participate!

How damn true is this all.I've myself about had it with all doctors after today,and I can't believe I'm saying today.It's never ending!!Michele Dx95 FNHL3

Hi Ross...I think this type of group environment has some potential for patients/caregivers. I understand the HIPPA concerns but if people are coming of their own free will and there are clear objectives for these people to come together, it could be quite productive. I, for one (with my three siblings and mother) learn a lot when we all come together and discuss the various things we've read/heard about the disease and its treatments. We all know we need to get educated as much as possible... Some people just don't know where to start and a group could help enlighten people that are overwhelmed.

I came to this support 'group' to learn from other patients/caregivers and taking it to a physical environment where everyone is under the same care could be quite interesting...regardless of whether or not the doctor is there.

Good food for thought! :)