How would you feel about this?

Dr House

Dr House

Dr House

Soldato
Joined
17 Oct 2002
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13,421
Location
London
So Im in malta with 2 other doctors. I was in the supermarket and I saw this woman who had a very suspicious mole on her back (another tourist).

Now my question, how would you feel if a random stranger came up to you in the supermarket and told you that you should get your mole checked out?

This thing had so many reg flags I don't know how she did not look into it already.
 
You will no doubt worry her whilst she was on holiday, for the duration of her holiday.

But you could also save her life.

I'd say sod the temporary embarrassment, do the doctor thing.
 
The sheer fact you've decided to share your dilemma here with us tells me you know the right decision to make and that makes me wonder if you're just looking for confirmation your decision is right?

  • Yes, you "could" ruin her holiday.
  • Yes, you will make her worry until it's checked out.
  • Yes, you may cause embarrassment!
  • Yes, you might just save her life!

I haven't got a medical degree but to my mind it's a no brainier . . . . . . .
 
My mum is a head teacher and she's always telling naughty kids off in the supermarket. I think you're safe telling someone about a mole!
 
I think I would obviously be alarmed but grateful in the longer term.

I remember Billy Connolly told a story saying a Doctor approached him in a hotel lobby and told him that he could tell by his gait that he might have early onset Parkinson's disease and told him to get it checked out. And that's how he was diagnosed.
 
Id tell her,If i was a Doctor and something concerned me right there and then,even if its not your patient and a total stranger,I wouldn't be doing my duty if i didn't make him/her aware.

Id just say to her,Excuse me but i couldn't help notice the mole on your back and as im a Doctor i was concerned if you had it checked or not already..

Sure it can be a bit weird,But if it turns out to be a bad one..well you have done her a massive favour.
 
Sonea Fifer said:
The sheer fact you've decided to share your dilemma here with us tells me you know the right decision to make and that makes me wonder if you're just looking for confirmation your decision is right?

  • Yes, you "could" ruin her holiday.
  • Yes, you will make her worry until it's checked out.
  • Yes, you may cause embarrassment!
  • Yes, you might just save her life!

I haven't got a medical degree but to my mind it's a no brainier . . . . . . .
Click to expand...

I know what the correct thing to do was and I did tell her. I was not looking for ppl here to confirm that. More just wondering how people would generally take it and if they would welcome the help.

She did not speak much English but understood and did not seem angry.
 
I always figured you were just a House fan rather than an actual doctor as well :D.

I would certainly prefer to be told. Highly unlikely it's going to suddenly kill me due to someone noticing it afaik they're not sentient.
 
Dr House said:
Now my question, how would you feel if a random stranger came up to you in the supermarket and told you that you should get your mole checked out?
Click to expand...
It would depend on how it was done. I've met doctors that are quite subtle, and doctors with the social skills of an enraged wild boar and the subtlety of a baseball bat.

Assuming it wasn't too blunt, I'd be grateful for the advice. Even if it was blunt, I'd still be grateful for the advice but it might take a bit longer to get over the shock.
 
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