Problem: Pain

I have been with Angie, my wife, on many of her appointments. One such appointment I vividly remember was at the university hospital pain center, described by some as one of the top medical centers in the country. Here, after poking by several residents, the residents left the room. They later returned with their supervising attending physician. He stood over my Angie as she lay on the examination table. Looking down at her, he said, "We treat bone pain here." Angie replied, "You advertise yourself as a pain-management center. I don't understand." The attending physician replied, "Anything we do for you would be very risky and most likely will not work." Angie described a new implantable device being used at Duke University Medical Center. The attending responded, "We never heard of that; however, we can suggest other procedures, but they do have associated risks." The attending then proceeded to describe the procedures to Angie. Both Angie and I thought, "This is a major teaching hospital? Why won't the physicians suggest looking into Duke's procedure as to the potential risks and benefits for Angie?" The attending suggested, "Why don't you think about the procedures we have discussed. Just schedule a new appointment before you leave."

1. Should the physicians have conducted research to determine if the Duke device might be helpful to Angie? Explain your answer.

2. What would you do, if you were Angie?