I've got a fight coming up in July. I needed the opthamology clearance and the physical/blood work clearance. Opthamology was fine. On Monday I had an appointment with my doctor for the physical. I explained to them why I needed the physical.
When I arrived I told them again why I was there. I also gave them the paperwork from the commission. I met with the doctor and he ran all the tests etc. We discussed what I'd be doing etc. When I was done there he gave me the paperwork for the Heb B, C, and HIV blood work and I literally went across the hall and had it done.
Yesterday the doctors office called and said everything was negative and what would they like me to do with the paperwork. They faxed the info to the commission.
The commission called me this morning and said it was a first for him. There were two boxes I HAVE...I HAVE NOT... cleared this patient to fight. The doctor did not mark either box and wrote in "NA-I have discussed the risks with the patient and he understands the risks involved." The commission needs an answer one way or the other.
I call the doctors office and explain. The desk lady starts telling me that the dr never "clears" anyone for these things. I stated that was the sole purpose for me being there.
I called the commission back and told him that he may need to talk to them. He did. He was more than helpful.
I called back really fuckin pissed. I asked why didn't he check a box. Because he doesn't do that. I asked why I wasn't made aware of this before coming in? "Oh I don't know." Well then I need to speak with someone that does. She put me on hold and never picked back up.
I feel it was underhanded/wrong on the doctors part to go forward with everything knowing he would not make a decision EITHER way. Am I wrong?
You may be pissed off. I give you my blessing.
and
GIVE THIS MAN HIS CHECKED BOX!
docs dont have to sign off on it. sounds like he has a moral issue with it. find another that will.
I don't think so, dude. the doc should leave his personal feelings about the sport out of it... his wife isn't a chef in NYC is she? lol
i have no issue with a dr not wanting to clear people to fight.
i have an issue with a dr who doesn't tell a patient that until after the fact.
that sucks.
Sounds like the doctor wanted to collect fees for a service he didn't provide...ask for a refund.
The lack of communication on the MDs part is inexcusable.
btw - cyclops, was it you that i hung out with in sacramento at a ufc a few years ago? the one where the kid jumped over a wall and died?
I agree. I would have ZERO problem with him simply sayinig "I don't do these". I could just move on. That's not what happened.
Was not me in Sacremento.
I spoke with them several times since my last post. I called the drs office to explain my opinion on how it seems occured. the manager/nurse explained that maybe there was a disconnect when making the appointment. I said "Ok. Let's say that's the case. Let's say I simply asked for a physical when making the appt., which isn't the case, but lets say it was. I showed up for the appt and gave the receptionist the paperwork explaining everything. She took that to the dr. When I met with him he had the paperwork and we discussed the fact I needed a physical in order to get cleared to fight. He certainly didn't say anything at that point about NOT "clearing" people for these."
When they called yesterday to tell me the paperwork was finished and what they should do with it I asked if everything was good to go. Was there any reason I'd be prevented from fighting. She said no. I asked her to fax it to the commission. I never looked it over beforehand and I suppose that's my fault.
The office called back and she stated that the doctor had spoken with the commission guy. She said the doctor was going to approve the physical and the commission would accept, but only if the verbage was changed. The doctor is worried about liability issues and the commission explained that the paperwork says the fighter is physically fit to fight on the day of that physical. Anything that happens afterward he is not liable for. If he says I have both eyes and I'm actually missing an eye, and have been, then he's wrong etc. So the dr accepted.
I've been so pissed all day. Ultimately it's not that big of a deal but I felt like I got 'took.' Glad it worked out.
smac 2.0 - btw - cyclops, was it you that i hung out with in sacramento at a ufc a few years ago? the one where the kid jumped over a wall and died?
It was probably me that you are thinking about SMAC 2.0.You were with LoudGrl & I ended up forgetting where I parked my truck.
Kirik - The lack of communication on the MDs part is inexcusable.This. Cycklops, what state are you in?
Physicians have every right to have opinions, but when their personal opinions impact their care of patients, there is a professionalism and ethics problem. This individual also seems to have a very poor understanding of professional liability if he thinks his actions somehow protect him from being sued; or that he could be sued if you get injured fighting (unless you had a preexisting condition that he missed)
SC MMA MD -I live in CA and the doctor is in CA, the license is for AZ.Kirik - The lack of communication on the MDs part is inexcusable.This. Cycklops, what state are you in?
Physicians have every right to have opinions, but when their personal opinions impact their care of patients, there is a professionalism and ethics problem. This individual also seems to have a very poor understanding of professional liability if he thinks his actions somehow protect him from being sued; or that he could be sued if you get injured fighting (unless you had a preexisting condition that he missed)
You're right. The commission guy (Matt) said the same exact thing. The doctor believes he'll be liable if something happens and he cleared me. So Matt spoke with him at length about it and how he's not liable unless he knows about the preexisting but doesn't say anything.
I can understand how important this is to you and your career but ticking the wrong box for whatever reason could similarly cost that doctor/man/father/husband his career. I would say he was practicing defensively and that there was nothing personal in it. 
I'd pop one of the doctors tires at he very least, but thats just me
Scumbag doctor. Make some complaint posts online at the various complaint sites. Doesn't seem like much, but those things pop up on the 1st page if anyone Googles the Dr.
myjawhurts - I can understand how important this is to you and your career but ticking the wrong box for whatever reason could similarly cost that doctor/man/father/husband his career. I would say he was practicing defensively and that there was nothing personal in it.
Listen, I'm not making a career out of this in any way. I fight a few times a year because I enjoy it. It makes me happy getting hit in the head and vice versa. I'm 40 in a couple months and probably don't have a ton more fights left.
The bottom line is, I can completely appreciate that he's a doctor/husband/father etc. He can have any opinion he likes. He can hate mma or boxing til the cows come home and vow to NEVER "clear" anyone for a physical. That should be known up front. I should never have stepped foot in his door if he wasn't gonna approve/disapprove anything I brought. I should have had full disclosure the second he realized why I was coming in.
The paperwork for the physical is essentially asking the doctor :Is this person physically fit enough, based on the criteria we've sent forth, to compete in said sport ON THE DAY THE PHYSICAL WAS GIVEN?" So on that day do I have any existing conditions that would prevent me from fighting that day.
I can appreciate him not wanting to put his neck on the line "clearing" someone and then the fighter gets killed in the ring, but the bottom line is, he wouldn't be responsible for that.
Stackdoe - Scumbag doctor. Make some complaint posts online at the various complaint sites. Doesn't seem like much, but those things pop up on the 1st page if anyone Googles the Dr.
I'm not like that really. I honestly don't think he was being underhanded...now. I think his behavior stemmed from ignorance on the subject. I would never wanna cause problems for his way to make a living.
my god did this guy get done with his internship last week? doesn't like, every kid that plays a sport in school get a physical? or does his office not do that sort of thing often lol
crowbar -smac 2.0 - btw - cyclops, was it you that i hung out with in sacramento at a ufc a few years ago? the one where the kid jumped over a wall and died?
It was probably me that you are thinking about SMAC 2.0.You were with LoudGrl & I ended up forgetting where I parked my truck.
lol, that's right. wonder what ever happened to her. i forgot about the truck til just now.