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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

What it actually says is that doctors should take the symptoms seriously; should avoid the argument over whether their root is psychological or not; and should focus on stopping them.

Seems sensible, even for the case of the patient who's prepared to suffer the symptoms indefinitely or until they get a non-psychological diagnosis with a handy pill.
 
These people are from the Aylward-Wessely school of disability denial. Involving the infamous Prof Trudie Chalder, who has made a successful career so far peddling this biopsychosocialbabble gibberish that is being utilised by this and the previous governments in the formation of the WCA done by Atos and the Welfare reform Act.

They are looking at CFS/ME, Fibro and other illnesses that have 'Medically Unexplained Symptoms' and saying it's all in the patients head.

These guys are pushing for more psychotherapy in the case of these illnesses.

Trying to explain myself is very much like wading through mud just now as I'm in real pain after walking to JC+ to sign on and back and my mind is having brain farts. These professionals would say that I need a shrink rather than real medical investigation into these conditions though.
 
Hope to find this book somewhere on teh internets to read.

Authors of Our Own Misfortune?: The Problems with Psychogenic Explanations for Physical Illnesses
Since the advent of "medicine" as a discrete practice, beliefs that bodily illness can somehow be caused by psychological, emotional, and behavioural "disorder" have been claimed by many in the discipline. Such beliefs became less creditable as scientific methods of detecting disease developed, with discoveries such as the physiological and anatomical abnormalities in Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, for example, and the organisms causing syphilis and duodenal ulcers. Nevertheless, psychogenic explanations for illnesses still appear frequently within medical and academic literature, in "common sense" public discourses, and in medical diagnoses of patients. But how plausible are these explanations? Authors of our Own Misfortune? proposes that psychogenic explanations for physical illnesses are subject to a complex mix of confusing concepts, accompanied by certain moralistic and ideological assumptions about people and their illnesses. Most crucially, such explanations are also, almost always, fatally flawed, both scientifically and logically. Furthermore, the widespread, uncritical acceptance and use of such explanations has had serious and specific adverse effects on the people upon whom they are used. This is a timely, groundbreaking book about a critical theme in medicine. It provides rigorous analysis of the claims made about "mental disorder" and bodily illness, using current "medical controversies" (such as, but not limited to, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) to demonstrate the problems with and adverse effects of such claims. Authors of our Own Misfortune? is essential reading for academics, health professionals, and those directly or indirectly affected by psychogenic explanations for illness.
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laptop said:
What it actually says is that doctors should take the symptoms seriously; should avoid the argument over whether their root is psychological or not; and should focus on stopping them.

Seems sensible, even for the case of the patient who's prepared to suffer the symptoms indefinitely or until they get a non-psychological diagnosis with a handy pill.
Click to expand...

who is prepared to suffer? you make it sound like these peopl are deliberately martyring themselves.

how about : who will suffer, because the theraputic approaches that deny all physical cause of their symptoms are completely non effective.

while there may not be a magic pill cure for everything, investigation into physical causes can help them and other patients by looking for one, maybee alongside psycological therapies designed to help alleviate the depressive effects of being permanently physically fucked and having every bastard tell you you're a bloody malingerer.
 
mrs quoad said:
*sigh*

tbf, that one's really difficult. And not just in ATOS assessments.

I can remember speaking to a drugs worker, who was in on an MH assessment for a section 136 (basically a psychiatric assessment after someone'd been taken into 'care' by the police). And the psychiatrist asked why she'd tried to kill herself on a stretch of road in front of a bus station filled with people, and not just round the corner on the (unwatched) main / A road.

If that question was asked in a therapeutic environment or, hell, even by the Samaritans, it could be a really good way of exploring someone's resources, strengths, perceptions of their situation, suicidal-ness *and* the 'real' nature of their support / other needs. (Someone who wasn't intending to die might still have fairly hefty support needs, but addressing them as though they were disordered and suicidal might be inappropriate, and not - necessarily - only for reasons of resourcing).

On the other hand, when it's asked by an ATOS assessor...
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I fail to understand how it might be used by ATOS - but that is possibly my failing
 
Hocus Eye. said:
Yup, I have been reading up about Atos. They are a massive multinational company based in France with branches all over the world including Australia. They have gobbled up lots of smaller companies including the medical side of Seimens. They have their own healthcare division and I wouldn't be surprised if they become one of the government's "preferred bidders" when it comes to the privatization of the health service. I was in my reference to the 8 day training hoping people would remember the 6 year training that a proper doctor gets.
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Six year minimum - never mind all the qualifications they have do afterwards. Six years is just the medical degree.
 
memorex said:
A nurse in Scotland who worked for Atos has come out and told the truth about the bastards.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/nurse-makes-heartfelt-apology-after-1340838#
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And a quote from the article, from Atos:
We understand that applying for benefit can be a difficult time which is why we try to make the part of the process we’re responsible for as comfortable as possible.”
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Lying fuckers. Sitting on a barbed wire chair would probably be more comfortable than their interview.
 
jaynelinney

Just another WordPress.com site


When Depression has a Reason

Posted on September 25, 2012
This post is inspired by Ron’s Rants – A day in a life with Chronic illness and Disability.

How I empathise with anyone whose life revolves around their daily routine of medication and who suffer from Depression, particularly those who regularly battle that little voice which whispers empty the meds cupboard and welcome to the darkness!

I too am in the midst of a deep depression that begs me to isolate myself, to let go of seeing family and friends and submit to the dark thoughts.
And as a counsellor in some seemingly distant part of my former life, I find this particularly worrying; because I acknowledge the traditional talking therapies actually can’t help with this particular bout.

The reason is, this particular depth of depression is a result of the situation I find myself in, the Welfare Reform Act had left me financially and to some extent physically & emotionally wrecked.

In less than a year, I’ve gone from being able to manage to survive on my Benefits; to losing so much income via ‘The Cuts’, it is no longer viable to live without help from family, and the family Pot is shrinking fast; I also live in fear of the next round, when I’m in genuinely terrified that I’ll be forced to give up my home (or end up evicted).

This situation means my once managed Depression is also becoming fast unmanageable! And for the first time in 50 years I can see No Way Forward!
I’m hanging in here because of the very family I’m bleeding dry, who tell me daily I’m worth it; so I too hope they’re right
All best xx
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http://jaynelinney.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/when-depression-has-a-reason/
 
laptop said:
What it actually says is that doctors should take the symptoms seriously; should avoid the argument over whether their root is psychological or not; and should focus on stopping them.
Click to expand...
Shame doctors don't follow that advice then. I've been complaining to my GP for the last 7 years about knee pain and asking for pain killers for it. Finally the other week my GP suggested I try neurofen. :eek:

It turns out that in my medical records (which my GP's have had a copy of all along) I've got athritis in both knees. :eek: :(
 
WouldBe said:
Shame doctors don't follow that advice then. I've been complaining to my GP for the last 7 years about knee pain and asking for pain killers for it. Finally the other week my GP suggested I try neurofen. :eek:

It turns out that in my medical records (which my GP's have had a copy of all along) I've got athritis in both knees. :eek: :(
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A friend of mine who has had M.E twenty five years was telling her doctor for years she had lung problems, it was only when she transferred doctors and was sent to a Consultant that Aspergillus was identified and now has only 3/4 of a lung, now recently she has found out they also missed heart disease, its seemed to always be ''oh, that will be your M.E''
 
Hocus Eye. said:
I thing Atos get a bad press. Some of their medical operatives have been given a thorough 8 day training course. Just because they don't make eye contact as they key in your details to the computer doesn't mean that they are not interested in the individual.
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Quote from the notes from my ATOS assessment "client does not appear depressed".

That's why ATOS get a bad press. Because the assessors write complete and utter shit that should have any medical professional struck off by the relevant professional bodies. They get huge amounts of money from the tax payer to declare sick and disabhled people fit to work. Then the taxpayer has to foot the 50 million quid bill for the appeals. Meanwhile over 30 people a week die.

In my opinion, anyone collaborating in this unholy scam is "an accessory to mass manslaughter".
 
Hocus Eye. said:
Yup, I have been reading up about Atos. They are a massive multinational company based in France with branches all over the world including Australia. They have gobbled up lots of smaller companies including the medical side of Seimens. They have their own healthcare division and I wouldn't be surprised if they become one of the government's "preferred bidders" when it comes to the privatization of the health service. I was in my reference to the 8 day training hoping people would remember the 6 year training that a proper doctor gets.
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Of course, you're not guaranteed to see a doctor, just a "healthcare professional". :)
 
Daily Record on Atos again today
Benefits bullies Atos driving Scots to brink of suicide, shock survey reveals
DISABLED Scots are being driven to the brink of suicide by controversial fit-for-work tests carried out by Atos.
Disturbing testimony from doctors exposes the devastation wreaked by the Con-Dem Government’s attempts to slash the welfare bill.
A shock survey shows 84 per cent of GPs have patients who have suffered stress, anxiety and depression due to the humiliating work capability assessments by the French multinational company.
And a startling one fifth of doctors believe the tests are causing suicidal thoughts in their patients.
Fourteen per cent have seen evidence of people self-harming due to the stress they are under.
The results are revealed in a joint report compiled by a group of charities, including the Scottish Association for Mental Health.
The revelations come amid growing public fury about Atos, who do the tests for the Department for Work and Pensions.
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mrs quoad said:
I've read through the slides, and haven't found anything that says that. I've ctrl+fed 'pretend,' and can't find the word used there.

wrt 'not bother investigating it...' The same document does state earlier that they'd only usually begin to consider approaching problems as 'medically unexplained' when they'd been through all available / apparent diagnostic tests. What they're outlining doesn't read to me as bad practice; more trying to find people find a way of improving their coping skills / quality of life when medical tests and treatment aren't being that useful.

e2a: and, in my reading, they very clearly *don't* state that "it's all in your head." In my reading, at least.
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"Medically unexplained symptoms" is a dustbin diagnosis, and one where you've unwittingly conformed to the medical profession's prejudice by "prescribing" "improving their coping skills/quality of life" (many people, by the time their problem has become chronic, usually know more about coping mechanisms and q of l adjustment and maximisation than their medical professionals do). That's exactly what the biopsychosocial movement prescribe, on the basis that if your symptoms are medically-unexplained, then improving your coping skills is rational. Of course, they also state that medically-unexplained symptoms are artifacts of the interaction of psychological stresses on the physiology of the patient, and that "playing the sick role" garners more reward than merely being unemployed etc.
 
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