Medically Racist

Well I've had my placement at the Chiropractors.  I'm probably a little more pro-chiro now than I was but I'm not sure I'd ever go myself.  He said there were two types, the traditional that believe they can fix any problem because the spine is the centre and needs realigning to restore flow to the nerve roots that come from the spinal cord.  Then there's the mechanical type like the one I saw that manipulate the spine to fix back pain but refer on for anything else.  He did get quite hands on and jump all over the patients, contorting them in strange positions and hugging them tight, jerking them to extend the stretch until the joints cracked.  There was one patient who was finding it really uncomfortable and seemed to be in a fair amount of pain but he was just ignoring it.  He berated her somewhat afterwards by saying that if he could move her neck there was no reason she shouldn't be able to which I thought was a bit harsh.  It's only natural that if something hurts you don't do it.  He might very well be right, I just felt there were probably more sensitive ways to say it.  He seems to have gone the opposite way - where Peninsula teach us to treat the whole patient including their thoughts and feelings, he treats spines, and just spines.  I did like how he explained to the mechanic about his back comparing it to a car engine, but he didn't treat all his patients equally.  We got into discussions about where GPs refer to.  He was upset that many will refer to a physio but not to a chiro.  He called it being medically racist, which is a novel idea.  The GPs I've spoken to say they won't refer to chiros because they aren't NHS; they aren't in the 'toolbox'.  He sort of understood this at the time, but then later referred back to GPs being medically racist, as though he was willing to accept my input, but had already made up his mind and that was what he thought.  What made me laugh was how he said he wanted tighter regulation and didn't want to be associated with the traditional chiros who do all sorts of strange treatments, but then said he uses a blend of physio, osteopath and chiropractic moves.  How is that better? He's still going outside his remit to treat how he feels works best.

Exam prep is still going pants.  I'm more on the 'I've got so much to learn and I'll never get it all done in time' mindset now.  I found out I passed my last assessment essay, so passing through to year 2 is all riding on the AMK or EoY1 test now.  As a class we've taken to accosting members of staff to see if anyonehas any knowledge of our AMK scores.  No joy yet.  I also found out I'm going to Truro for my fifth year which I'm pleased with.  I've collected the set now with years spent at Exeter, Plymouth and Truro.  Mr and Mum aren't too thrilled as it means I'll be really far away.  The way I see it, I'll be too busy to have the time to just pop home.  Plus it's no further from home than when I was in Southampton and Mum didn't have a problem then.  I'm happy because it's pretty, I've heard good things about the teaching as people have the time to teach you and they are friendly.  I'm not fussed about the lack of nightlife, and I'm pleased I have the opportunity to go to Cornwall as a local and not a grockle.  If the foundation school applications change to reflect the proposals I was emailed about earlier in the year, it'll mean I do F1 there as well.  See you on the other side of the dreaded end of year :-|