Deena, we evaluate them. We've got a patient history and a checklist of exams they're supposed to perform and pieces of our history they're supposed to ask about, and we also get to write a few sentences directly to them saying what worked and didn't (and a blunter and colder assessment to the doctor running the program so he knows what the red flags are).

t waves to vw

t hands Teppy a box of tissues so she doesn't get her nice clean towels all drippy and snotful

Aww. Here's hoping JZ's next doctor-cantidate is better.

I'm trying to decide how much I want to get done today. Originally, I had big plans to get shit done yesterday. That didn't happen, so I figured "eh, I can do it Sunday". Now I'm thinking "hmm...". Go to the gym, the medical clinic for vaccinations, the used bookstore, the thrift store, dinner with friends, AND laundry? Seems like...a lot. It could happen. But I may be punking out right now. I *should* go to the gym....

Also, the travel meds? Freakin' expensive! $50 for the visit (so they'll stick me), $90 for hep A, and $75 for typhoid. YEESH. This trip may have a free ticket, but it's becoming a very expensive trip!!

t waves back to JZ

Next doctor? Such better English. Such better verbal communication. So much better about doing things like summarizing and paraphrasing the patient's responses so that it was clear that she understood everything I was saying. Great physical exam. Great bedside manner. Sweet, compassionate... and when I said that the big honking bruise under my ribcage came from whamming myself on the high-armed couch while picking up the kids' toys, smiled and nodded and didn't ask one single more question about the kids or the home or the father of the kids.

It just amazes me how fucking easy it is to lie to people. Even to doctors. If you were afraid and ashamed and deeply invested in protecting the kids and not leaving, it would be incredibly easy to lie and lie and lie and never be challenged or even questioned.

Jeez JZ, feast or famine!

How great is it that you are doing this work...and that such a program even exists.

In the very, very old days, when there was a lot of abuse going on in my house, not. one. single. question. ever. Okay, that's not quite true...one nieghbor, 'the busybody', tried to help by sending the police. I lied, they went away. I was 7 and a very bad liar, as I recall.

Wow. Watch my head spin on this existential question...For a fairly imperialistic ours-is-the-one-true-culture country, how did we become such a nation of not-wanting-to-get-involveds.

lied, they went away. I was 7 and a very bad liar, as I recall.

Good heaven, Beej. The cops just took the word of a child? Didn't even bother asking for your mom?

In the new patient questionairre thingy that my doc used, she asked about sexual history stuff (usual) and relationship (e.g. are you married, dating, monogamous, etc.) stuff. Then, she flat out asked, "Does your boyfriend hit you?" I said no (cuz he didn't) and asked if people answered that honestly if the answer was yes. She said that it usually surprised them so much that the true answer got blurted out. I must admit, I blurted my answer because of the bluntness of the question.

My doctor told me the same thing about people's drug histories, too.

But how are they supposed to tell? Because certainly there are people out there who get suspicious-looking bruises for totally innocuous reasons.

That's to JZ, not Beej. Beej, I think even stronger that the I-know-what's-right tradition is the stay-out-of-my-business Strong American Independence.

I'm pretty suspicious these days of the idealized American Individualism, since it seems often to go along with the idea that the Individual in question is more important than other, you know, people.

ETA: Huh. You know, being asked questions like that (the "does your boyfriend hit you" or "do you do drugs" or "how much do you drink" questions) always makes me feel defensive and nervous. I don't know why -- I'm telling the truth! I have nothing to hide! But I get all nervous anyway.

Interesting. I'm watching something about maintenance (oops-- Extreme Maintenance) of national parks. It's really cool, but it'd be better without the Courageous Music.

Good heaven, Beej. The cops just took the word of a child? Didn't even bother asking for your mom?

I was alone (per usual) at 11pm. No mom in the picture, living alone with my violent, alcoholic, convicted pedophile of a father.

Yup. Ain't that America?

Or at least America in 1967. Things have improved in some quarters.

I'm pretty suspicious these days of the idealized American Individualism, since it seems often to go along with the idea that the Individual in question is more important than other, you know, people.

Amen Emily!

Personal freedom is my most cherished value. And yet? I wonder what happened to honor and recognizing that supporting the whole DOES support me. For catsake, game theory even supports working together.