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Clinton News-Record, 1985-3-27, Page 27Page (CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985 Doctor's work tough when patierit dictates BY ALAN RIVE'1"F The current information explosion in the medical field has placed an ever-increasing strain on doctor and patient relations, says a Wingham doctor. Dr. Walter Wong, a general practitioner connected with Wingham and District Hospital, spoke on doctor -patient relations at the Huron County unit of the Canadian Cancer Society's meeting in Clinton on Tuesday, Mar. 19. According to Dr. Wong, the recent ad- vancement in communications and the fast dissemination of information is undermin- ing the doctor's position because medical knowledge is more accessible to the patient and the public. "The doctor is placed in a position where his abilities are questioned by people who learn their medicine from Reader's Digest," Dr. Wong says. He says the widespread information has led to a great deal of "mistrust and misunderstanding" of the medical profes- sion by the community. When the patient begins to dictate to the doctor, the doctor is under more pressure to make the right deci- Dr. Walter Wong was the guest speaker of the Huron County unit of the Canadian Cancer society meeting in Clinton on March 19. Dr. Wong, a general practitioner hi the Wingham area, gave a speech on doctor - patient relations. OPTOMETRY R.W. BELL OPTOMETRIST The Square, GODERICH 524-7661 JOHN LONGSTAFF OPTOMETRIST Seaforth 527-1240 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00-5:30 Saturday 9:00-12:00 noon Closed Wednesdays BY APPOINTMENT Free parking on premises ELECTRIC 99 i�VA‘t e.Ctt r•c eVet�lhlr`9 *ECONOMY *QUALITY • SERVICE 'Big jobs or small. we guarantee them all' 482-7374 CLINTON OR CALL 1-800-265.9255 ASK 0778 ORA 1266 ER O. sions about a patient which ultimately makes him more likely to make a mistake. Proof of the "democratization" of medicine, says Dr. Wong, is the steady in- crease in negligence suits against doctors. In 1982, $5 million was. paid out of the health care system in negligence suits while in 1984, the amount has skyrocketted to over $12 million. He says the increase is not a question of the inabilities of doctorsbut of widespread information. "We (doctors) are men and are�entitlel�ll to just as many mistakes and "rights as everyone else," he says. Doctors down through history have been revered members of the community involv- ed in a "mystical" profession which only a few could understand, Dr. Wong says. Although increased medical knowledge by the public has lessened the mysticism of medicine, it has also created some pro- blems. Dr. Wong would like to see doctors get back to the business of medicine without the bureaucratic hurdles connected with it. "The doctor should not be a deified figure but rather an informed technician responsi- ble for taking a patient and seeing him through his illness," he says. "The doctors should be given the opportunity to practise medicine as they were trained to do and not be hindered by the red tape of the powers that be." An example of the red tape now in the medical system is the duplication of ser- vices. He says hospitals in major Canadian centres try to be "all things to all people" by offering a lot of similar services. This has caused the disappearance of cross referral between hospitals which results in wasted funds within the system. In future the whole Canadian health system will change because of the increased medical knowledge by non-medical people, the Wingham doctor says. The doctor's job will be more of an advisor to patients' who may either accept et' reject the advice. The role of the hospital will also change as more computerized medical equipment can be better manipulated by technicians than by medical people, says Dr. Wong. • This year's executive for the Huron County unit of the Canadian Cancer Society are: Front row, left to right, Murray Hunter, cam- paign chairman; Wendy Tremeer, staff secretary; Gayle Brownridge, relief secretary. Back row, left to right, Steve Biskup, treasurer; Lynne Armstrong -Hayes, education; Leone Brock, Ex- eter president; Mel Farnsworth, Huron County president; Angus MacLennan, second vice-president; and Bob McCall, Goderich president. Cancer Society sets The Huron County unit of the Canadian Cancer Society has set its sights on raising $90,000 for Cancer this year. Individual branches within the county also have fund-raising goals. These objec- tives, include Clinton, $17,500; Exeter, $21,700; Goderich, $22,800; Seaforth, $8,300 and Wingham, $19,700. Again, the Huron County unit will be runn- ing a door-to-door campaign to raise funds with volunteers from each of the five bran- ches taking part. The society will be involved in other money raising projects such as bike-a- thons, daffodil teas, and the sale of daffodil blooms. A total of 55,500 blooms will be sold throughout the county by various service ID 90,000 goal clubs beginning in April. Goderich will have 17,000 blooms to sell; Clinton 15,000; Exeter 12,500; Wingham 7,000 and Seaforth 4,000. The daffodils will sell for $2 per bunch of 10. In Goderich, the Lioness club will be selling daffodil blooms at the Suncoast Mall on Apr. 12 and 13. Goderich, Clinton and Exeter will be holding bike-a-thons in the month of April. No definite dates have yet been set. The Canadian Cancer Society's Huron County branch raised $93,708 for research during last year's campaign. This total ex- noorfod loaf 'oar's objective of $80,000 by more than $13,000. The money raised by individual branches shows Goderich 'with $23,784;xeter $22,566; Wingham $20,430; Clinton1 $18,297 Funds help research come closer to cure TO meet its ongoing commitments in cancer research, - patient services and education, the Ontario Division of the Cana- dian- Cancer Society needs to raise $14.52 million this year. "It is the generous support of the Cana- dian public that allows the. Canadian Cancer Society to continue its support of cancer research, education and cancer patient ser- vices," said Terry Roberts, Ontario Divi- sion Campaign Chairman. "Each year br- ings us closer to a cure for cancer." The money raised during the Society's An- nual April Campaign will fund existing research programs as well as the Society's ongoing Education and Patient Services programs. At present, Education programs receive 14 per cent of the Society's income, Patient Services 20 percent, Administration and Fund Raising 11 percent, and Research funding accounts for the remaining 55 per- cent. ; Business and ProfessionalDirectory WELDING; REPAIR Clinton Electric 0 White -Westinghouse ttutf�crir>,t Appliances Sales and Service APPLIANCE REPAIRS;; ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE 90 ALBERT ST. 482-3646 APPLIANCE and REFRIGERATION REPAIR SERVICE Jim Broadfoot 482®7032 .INSURANCE GAISER-KNEALE INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Insurance -Real Estate Investments Isaac St., Clinton Phone Office 482-974.7 Len Theedom 482-7994 Hal Hartley 482-3693 Bill Counter 482.3687 JOHN WISE INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. General Insurance Guaranteed Investments Clinton Office: 482-3401 Res.: 482-7265 MECHANICAL., 'BAILEYS F' () BO% )9 MIlI STRFF I HINSAlI ()NI NUM Ixh HI A I INr, * AIR r UNUt I IoNINr, * `,til 1 I MI AI SALES * SF-PVI(F * SAI A( LION BILL BAILEY 262 2f)2O Spar of lr., t•. u: 1'n L.r r nn:hu` rr,rn W nin,rl ACCOUNTANT W.L. BUTLER CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Trustee in Bankruptcy Farm Financial Statements OFFICES -- -- 19 victoria Street, North Goderich 524-2834 or 524-86.58 325 Lambton Crt., Kincardine 396.7088 5 Ontario St:, Clinton 482-7541 (at EHH&R Block) STELARC METAL PRODUCTS *Iron Railings *Portable Welding *Trailers 8 Hitches /�Equippment *General Fabricating HONE 48`-901 0 GLASS/ALUMINUM See us for your building projects •Glass and mirrors •Energy-efficient replacement windows •Windgw & screen repair • Plexiglass • Door service and repairs •Complete range of aluminum siding and building products Clinton ,, mirror and aluminum products 24 Princess St. West, CLINTON 482-3322 INSULATION GODERICH ENERGY SEAL AND INSULATION Complete insulation of attics, basements, walls Sealing & removal of UFFI replacement windows Ener -seal draft•proofing ventilation of attic of home humidity problems solved (G0vE GRANTAVAILABLE FREE ESTIMATES 37 KINGSTON ST., GODERICH 524-2311 outoftown call collect FARM atz SALES and SERVICE InandlPar sn KEITH SIEMON FARM SYSTEMS LTD. RR 4 Walton Phone 345-2734 FOR FREE PLANNING AND ESTIMATES "The Society's 1985 theme, Cancer Can Be Beaten, reflects the belief that a dire will be • found for this disease," said Mr. Roberts. "There are many types of cancer for which we have madetremendous advances in treatment, but we still have a long road ahead. We are winning because the support we receive allows us.to make progress in the fight against canceV." ' FiIt.r ween "IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA" 482-7103 :Gibe us a cell at (482'3443 or 482-77.41) and we can help you make odds 'n ends disappear by using the Classified Want Ads! Cl tltoh Nen9-geOi1l Incorporating he Bayfield Bu, le The Blyth Standard and Seaforth with $8,630. Money raised from the Huron County unit will be turned over to the Ontario division of the Canadian Cancer Society. This year, the goal for Ontario is to raise $13 million for cancer research as well as for other vital work like patient services and public educa- tion. The Canada -wide goal for the Canadian Cancer Society is to raise $26 million. Pfaff named area director Mark Pfaff is the new district director of the Southwestern and Essex district bran- ches of the Canadian Cancer Society. A native of Windsor, Mr. Pfaff has been a volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society as well as a volunteer for the United Way and the MS society. He received his formal training in social work at the University of Windsor and the University of Toronto. He says he and his family will be moving to the London area in the near future. "I'm looking forward to getting out and meeting the volunteers in the Southwestern district. I'm also looking forward to getting a concept of the issues. that you (the volunteers)- are connected with," said Mr. Pfaff in a brief speech before the Huron County unit's Mar. 19 meeting in Clinton. Mr. Pfaff said his role as district director will be one of a resource person. He will be travelling from branch to branch in the Southwestern district helping structure the three major programs the society is involv- ed in. These include fund raising, patient services and public education. The county branches in the southwestern district Mr. Pfaff will be' serving are Huron, Elgin, Kent,!Oxford, London -Middlesex and Lambton. ET ET ET' ET ET' ET:' ET..: ET ,r FT .ET:, .41 f.j FT 41 11 f r.:. I1 El. FT ET ET ET ET ET ET' ET ET ET" Fr ri ET ET: FT: ET Travel Ontario Open House April 1st only Olde Town Hall, Exeter 10 a.m. - 1,0 p.m. Travel ideas for Ontario PICKUP - Flyers - Brochures SEE - Films - Slides - Videos WIN - a weekend holiday at - Delta Chelsea Inn, Toronto Wheels - Chatham (Midweek) - Parklane - London - No purchase necessary MEET THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM - Three Buoys Houseboat Charters - Kawartha Cruises on the Trent Severn - Deerhurst Lodge and. Sherwood Inn - Whitewater rafting - VIA Rail - Southwestern Ontario Travel Association and more FREE COFFEE - FREE DONUTS ;compliments of South Western Ontario Travel Association Three Buoys Houseboats on Display �t ` Special Sales at Town Centre April 1st Darling's IGA Expanded store Ontario's finest quality meats specials April 1st Darling's White Bread ,39C 675 g. loaf Chapmans Ice Cream 1.69 2 I. Generic Potato Chips .79C200 g. Regular Ground Beef .99CIb. Image Drycleaners One Day Sale Only on household articles - drapes, bedspreads etc. Get ready for spring Big V Drug Store Easter Specials Easter Baskets '9.99 Easter Colouring Contest Sepclol Easter Candies and Novelties Plower Pedlar Huron County's largest Flower Shop April 1st Special Daisy Cinnoraria 4.95 Book your wedding and be eligible for '150 draw Mon. to Rrl. e:30 • 3:96 Saturday 9:30 • 1130 Toll fro* ;1-000 - 265.7022 Local tails - 235.2000 FT FT' ET ET ET ET'` ET ET ET ET ET ET ET. Eli ET FT