Disability and Leap’s Law of Incapacity
We see a lot of folks in the South who are on ‘disability.’ Now, first and foremost, let me say that there are some who truly need it. I’m delighted to help them. I’m thrilled that we live in country willing and able to meet the needs of those who cannot work to support themselves. The world is full of countries where disability means begging and early death. This isn’t one of those countries, and if anyone thinks America reprehensible, this is a great example of why we aren’t.
However, those of us in our little Southern emergency department see way too many people who are ‘disabled.’ And here’s a good example. More than once, my partners and I have asked a perfectly lucid, normal appearing man or woman this question: ‘Why are you on disability? It will help me to know as I decide how to help you with your problem.’ More than once, here’s the answer: ‘Doc, I honestly don’t remember!’
Now here’s my postulate, my ‘Leap’s Law of Incapacity.’ If you can’t remember why you’re on disability, you shouldn’t be on disability. Sure, there are some who have head injuries and short-term memory problems. I’m not talking about that. Those people are usually accompanied by someone who explains the problem. ‘He can’t remember anything! He had a head injury!’ The ones I’m talking about can remember exactly when their check arrives, exactly what time their favorite show is on television, and know exactly what to say to ensure they’re rapid transportation into the emergency department.
The disabled, the truly disabled, are harmed and dishonored by the huge number of people who see disability, not as a crutch, not as a lifeline in crisis, but as a kind of ‘holy grail,’ a ‘golden ring’ to reach for on the carousel of an inactive, purposeless life. The problem is, it’s a grail, it’s a ring that you and I pay for in our tax dollars. And somehow, we’ve come to see it as an acceptable benefit! We see our taxes slip away into the great sink-hole of government largess, and congratulate ourselves on our compassion, even as our money is wasted by politicians and those who eat their table scraps.
Do you want to reduce the deficit? Do you want to make America financially stronger? Then one sure-fire answer would be to go through the disability roles and clean house. Back pain? Learn to do a job without lifting. Anxiety? Learn to work from home. Depression? Let’s treat them and get them busy; I’d be depressed, too, if I had no sense of purpose or self-determination. Obesity and leg pain? Don’t get me started.
Watch the disabled in your emergency departments and clinics, even the ones in your neighborhood. The truly disabled frequently wish, with all their hearts, that they could work and live normally. The ‘pseudo-disabled’ often lead busy, active lives, similar to ours, but unencumbered by the annoyance of going to work each week.
Tragically, they recruit their children and grandchildren in ever increasing circles of incapacity and lassitude, so that generations sit around the house and yard, drinking, fighting, fishing, hunting, making children and wondering why the ‘government and those rich people,’ don’t do more to help them. Even more tragically, it just isn’t that much money. I suppose if you set your sights low enough, even a small check for no effort (except the effort of acting in front of the right doctor), is better than no check.
Of course, they do work, don’t they? I love it when my ‘disabled’ patients ask for work excuses. This happens all the time. ‘I thought you were disabled?’ (or unemployed as the registration form said). ‘Well, yeah, but I, uh, I have this little job I do, uh…’
Not only do we need to force them into the vile servitude of the labor force, we need to go after some doctors and either 1) fire them 2) fine them or 3) empower them to say no, up to and including offering them armed body-guards. I’m convinced that some doctors give disability because they’re compassionate, and some because they’re afraid or exhausted. But some simply have no idea what they’re doing or are suckers for any shiftless man or woman with a sob story and an unverifiable complaint.
So, ladies and gentlemen, let’s get out there and watch the allegedly broken and wounded and the allegedly disabled; and let’s turn them in! Let’s get them off of our tax dollars, remove them abruptly from the great breast of the state. And in so doing, let’s show ever greater respect and compassion for those who are truly disabled, and who so truly would love to work again.
Hoist the Jolly Roger, me lassies and laddies!
Your friend,
Edwin
This actually explains a lot. Several years ago I was in the hospital for 5 days and out of work for 10 days due to a heart problem. Afterwards I went to my primary care doctor’s office and asked that they fill out the information for my disability reporting agency. This is an insurance policy that is provided through my employer to cover short-term disabilities and make sure that we continue to be paid when we are ill or injured. It is mentioned during our contract negotiations and we are told it is part of our “total compensation package”. It is not Social Security Disability. They were rude and insulting and refused to fill the paperwork out in a timely manor. I was insulted to the point that I fired the doctor even though she is an excellent doctor. Now I wonder if they had mistaken what I was asking for.
AMEN!
My parents are both disabled with legit problems. The sad part is, those who are truly disabled have a very difficult time actually getting disability benefits, while those who don’t need it seem able to get it without a problem.
Great post!
I’m not sure if I am offended by your post, or if it makes perfect sense. I have that lower back pain, and those legs pains you speak of, but I also have had bilateral knee replacements and multiple level fusions on the LS.I have fought RA and also OA for many years and managed to work for 35 of those years until I literally could not stand or walk for over a few minutes at a time.
I had to fight for my SSD and was approved based in part on my strong work history and current MRIs documenting end stage arthritis. So yes, back and leg pains can disable someone. But I do also know alot of people who get disability and I have to wonder exactly how it is they got it.
I’ve been receiving disability insurance (not SSI) since my cancer was diagnosed. Far from want to remain on it – I really, really want to go back to work. I’m so tired of being broke! My payments are only 2/3 of what my base salary was 3 years ago.
Plus HUGE medical bills that keep coming as my doctors and I try to get me physically capable of coming back to work. Add a honking great COBRA payment. Not dental or life insurance.
And if I’m running short or have unexpected expenses, I can’t just do an overtime shift. I just don’t eat or don’t fill some of my meds.
I miss the intellectual stimulation – seriously, if not for these medical blogs I’d be near suicidal. I worked at an important job with big responsibilities. Several people are alive now because I was caring for them. That carries a sense of fulfillment that has been sadly lacking these last 3 years.
All in all not working SUCKS!!! Why do people want to do this for the rest of their life???
MCA said
I’m not sure if I am offended by your post, or if it makes perfect sense.
If you are offended, perhaps you have a guilty conscience, as it is pretty clear that the doctor disqualified at the beginning those with conditions such as that for which you speak. You chose to reply off topic, with a lengthy personal explanation, for your benefit or to convince others? For your sake, I hope it is the former. There are too many who lack the desire/ability for critical self-reflection (humility).
Of course, there are other explanations including poor reading comprehension, and Entitlement Syndrome (whose Holy Trinity consists of Godlessness, Liberalism, and Narcissism).
A friend’s father is on disability and has been since age 26. All I know is that he spent 4 years shagging fly balls and throwing batting practice to us in high school when we played softball together…ridiculous. 30 years on the frikkin’ dole.
As a self-employed solo family doc, my unvoiced question is “What would I do if you were my father/mother/brother/sister/wife/child?” For questions of disability, the unvoiced additional question is “If you were self-employed, would you still be disabled?”.
Very good site!
Is it ok to post a link to this site from mine? My blog is wp.assurancenetwork.net.
Thanks.
Jaime