Any health risks with being a pathologist

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I was wondering if there are any health risks with being a pathologist in terms of any chemical hazards and enviromental hazards related to the work of being a pathologists. Thanks
 
You have a good chance of cutting yourself on the surg path bench or autopsy table, thus exposing yourself to all sorts of diseases. I'd guess that's the biggest risk for a pathologist.
 
Plus you will be constantly mobbed and stalked by hot chicks, so if you are averse to that you might not want to become a pathologist.
 
Freestyle said:
Plus you will be constantly mobbed and stalked by hot chicks, so if you are averse to that you might not want to become a pathologist.
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oh and we carry guns too...we might actually shoot ourselves. that would be bad.
 
junlujlu said:
I was wondering if there are any health risks with being a pathologist in terms of any chemical hazards and enviromental hazards related to the work of being a pathologists. Thanks
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Pathologists get really bad, I mean BAD, cases of hemorrhoids! What do you expect...these SOBs sit on their asses all day?!? Seriously, you really should reconsider getting in this field if you cannot tolerate hemorrhoids. To further complicate things, these are external hemorrhoids (posterior to the pectinate line) hence making them REALLY F*CKING PAINFUL! In extreme cases, some pathologists have been known to blow out their dinguses! Next time you see a pathologist…ask if you can examine his or her underwear, observe the bloodshed for yourself!


PATHOLOGY = HEMORRHOIDS!

p01.jpg
 
AndyMilonakis said:
oh and we carry guns too...we might actually shoot ourselves. that would be bad.
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Don't forget the high-speed motorcycle chases and shoot-outs at crime scenes. Oh, and we might just get abducted by a suspect to perform an autopsy at gunpoint. (Actual episode of "Crossing Jordan" - don't ask how I know)

It's a hazardous job for only the toughest, coolest people.
*Slips on leather jacket, motorcycle helmet and sunglasses, and roars away*
 
cytoborg said:
Don't forget the high-speed motorcycle chases and shoot-outs at crime scenes. Oh, and we might just get abducted by a suspect to perform an autopsy at gunpoint. (Actual episode of "Crossing Jordan" - don't ask how I know)

It's a hazardous job for only the toughest, coolest people.
*Slips on leather jacket, motorcycle helmet and sunglasses, and roars away*
Click to expand...
I actually don't need a gun. Equipping myself with a pipetman and a bonkstick is sufficient.
 
Some say that hanging around formalin is unhealthy for you. However, once you get through residency your exposure to formalin is minimized a bit because residents and PAs do all that.

I dunno - there are an awful lot of pathologists who work into their 70s, you don't hear as much as other fields about the pathologist dropping dead in the parking lot on the way out the door.
 
Harbster said:
That's bullsh*t...where did my pic of hemorrhoids go?!?!?

Okay, would the dingus that was offended by the pic of the 'hoids please stand up!
:laugh:
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save the anger for the pool hall...you're about to be pwned! :laugh:
 
BamaAlum said:
Anyone ever hear of this guy?

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/?ID=140
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I dont believe this. First off, the odds of a single scapel nick causing seroconversion is astronomically low given the odds of a needle stick with HIV+ blood is already low.

I ask you: would it be more likely he seroconverted after a night of uprotected anoreceptive gay sex he doesnt want the world to know about? Or HIV+ as the result of a heroic autopsy effort? One makes a better story doesnt it?

He very well wouldnt sell many copies of a book entitled: Bisexual pathologist battles AIDS, would he??

WAKE UP! WE'VE BEEN HAD (AGAIN).
 
LADoc00 said:
I dont believe this. First off, the odds of a single scapel nick causing seroconversion is astronomically low given the odds of a needle stick with HIV+ blood is already low.

I ask you: would it be more likely he seroconverted after a night of uprotected anoreceptive gay sex he doesnt want the world to know about? Or HIV+ as the result of a heroic autopsy effort? One makes a better story doesnt it?

He very well wouldnt sell many copies of a book entitled: Bisexual pathologist battles AIDS, would he??

WAKE UP! WE'VE BEEN HAD (AGAIN).
Click to expand...

This is a common feeling. He is actually not at Vanderbilt anymore he is now at UT-Knoxville.
http://gsm.utmck.edu/faculty/mdjohnson.htm
 
Last year one of my classes had a guest speaker who contracted HIV from a scalpel cut while performing an autopsy. That was in 1982 when the first AIDS deaths began cropping up in LA and no one had a clue what was going on. He's been full blown for quite awhile and is basically a guinea pig for any new HIV supression therapies that come out. He found out he was HIV positive when he was put in charge of an HIV testing program and had the test done to so that he could understand what was involved. To make it even more dramatic, the girl he was engaged to at the time is now his wife. No ****.
 
LADoc00 said:
Well Occum's razor states he took some Southern boy's load where the Tennesse Sun dont shine!
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Insensitive,worse still a benighted response.(Anyone doing an autopsy faces a risk of getting cut and infected;remember truth is stranger than fiction)
Please refer to the following :
Johnson MD, Schaffner W, Atkinson J, Pierce MA.Autopsy risk and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus infection: a case report and reappraisal.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997 Jan;121(1):64-6.
By the way its "Occam's razor" .
Other articles of related interest:
1.Nolte KB, Yoon SS.Theoretical risk for occupational blood-borne infections in forensic pathologists.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2003 Oct;24(10):772-3.(Using a cumulative probability analysis and published data, we calculated the theoretical career risk of occupational HIV (2.4%) and HCV (39%; possible range, 13% to 94%) infections for forensic pathologists.)
2.Burton JL.Health and safety at necropsy.J Clin Pathol. 2003 Apr;56(4):254-60.
3.Hutchins KD, Williams AW, Natarajan GA.Neck needle foreign bodies: an added risk for autopsy pathologists.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2001 Jun;125(6):790-2.
4.Grist NR, Emslie JA.Association of Clinical Pathologists' surveys of infection in British clinical laboratories, 1970-1989.J Clin Pathol. 1994 May;47(5):391-4.
5.Denes AE, Smith JL, Maynard JE, Doto IL, Berquist KR, Finkel AJ.
Hepatitis B infection in physicians. Results of a nationwide seroepidemiologic survey.JAMA. 1978 Jan 16;239(3):210-12.
 
cryptic said:
Insensitive,worse still a benighted response.(Anyone doing an autopsy faces a risk of getting cut and infected;remember truth is stranger than fiction)
Please refer to the following :
Johnson MD, Schaffner W, Atkinson J, Pierce MA.Autopsy risk and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus infection: a case report and reappraisal.Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997 Jan;121(1):64-6.
By the way its "Occam's razor" .
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Ooo I stand corrected then. The one ? I have is did they perform any molecular confirmation that the coprse's HIV strain and the pathologist's are the same?


PS- Youre right I am benighted secondary to Andy' incessant poo talk. I feel dirty...need to shower.
 
LADoc00 said:
Ooo I stand corrected then. The one ? I have is did they perform any molecular confirmation that the coprse's HIV strain and the pathologist's are the same?
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Read the article,it is all in there.
It really is not an issue about being right or wrong.
The aforementioned physician is a human being facing an extremely stressful situation.He deserves our empathy,not attempts at ribaldry.
I cannot understand what you are gaining by stating he got his infection through an alternate mode (homosexual encounter).
When I see a patient I only see a suffering fellow humanbeing.
I am extremely proud of myself when I am able to take even a single step towards alleviating his/her pain.
I am sure you share a similiar or even better perspective.

PS.
benighted
Function: adjective
Text: lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
Example:the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading
 
The guy is not presenting as a patient he's presenting as a public figure. I personally find it kind of disgusting that someone would sensationalize their own disease acquisition in the manner that this guy did with that book. He's not immune to being desecrated, just like anyone else who puts themself up in this manner.

Don't think that being a physician requires to be one uber enlightened and extra sensitive towards all people who have medical issues. It's just not that way. No need to lay blame over it. Save your energy and use it where it will make a difference. 🙂
 
bananaface said:
The guy is not presenting as a patient he's presenting as a public figure. I personally find it kind of disgusting that someone would sensationalize their own disease acquisition in the manner that this guy did with that book. He's not immune to being desecrated, just like anyone else who puts themself up in this manner.

Don't think that being a physician requires to be one uber enlightened and extra sensitive towards all people who have medical issues. It's just not that way. No need to lay blame over it. Save your energy and use it where it will make a difference. 🙂
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I do not know you, hence I am at a loss to completely understand your covert hostility but I believe it stems from certain unresolved conflicts that may have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
Given that I have had my say,I will refrain from future replies pertaining to this topic.
 
cryptic said:
Read the article,it is all in there.
It really is not an issue about being right or wrong.
The aforementioned physician is a human being facing an extremely stressful situation.He deserves our empathy,not attempts at ribaldry.
I cannot understand what you are gaining by stating he got his infection through an alternate mode (homosexual encounter).
When I see a patient I only see a suffering fellow humanbeing.
I am extremely proud of myself when I am able to take even a single step towards alleviating his/her pain.
I am sure you share a similiar or even better perspective.

PS.
benighted
Function: adjective
Text: lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books
Example:the poor benighted souls who do not know the joys of reading
Click to expand...

Dude, I was joking. you cant take life too seriously, especially when you staring down a lifetime of pathology, which isnt the most interactive of specialities. So go ahead and extricate your bunched panties from your buttocks.

And yes, my ribaldry is quite in order as I dont find it neccessary to maintain an aloof and genteel deportment in the company of such fine hobnobbers.
Because yes, I know how to use SAT words too, you dork. :laugh:
 
cryptic said:
I do not know you, hence I am at a loss to completely understand your covert hostility but I believe it stems from certain unresolved conflicts that may have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
Given that I have had my say,I will refrain from future replies pertaining to this topic.
Click to expand...
Covert hostility? Eh, whatever. It's all in your head, hon. I have been through the whole overzealous newbie thing myself and gotten over it (head trip included). There is no hostility, only my opinion on the situation, and my understanding of where you are coming from. It's all good.
 
You know what? Every single forum post cannot be made with the consideration of the feelings and personal concerns of every person who it might remotely affect. The fact is that this man has gone public with his story. Everyone clearly can see that he has suffered an unfortunate situation because of it. Questioning the veracity of the report is part of scientific curiosity and is inherent to medicine. Just because someone says it doesn't make it true.

I would also think that the likelihood of him acquiring HIV from another source would be higher than that of the autopsy. But anything is possible.

The other issue is that while he may not be here to defend himself, he is also not going out and asking you to defend him. So while it is important to bring up the issue of potential contraction of an infectious disease in the course of one's daily duties, it is also often relevant to bring up the issue that there may be other causes as well.
 
cryptic said:
When I see a patient I only see a suffering fellow humanbeing.
I am extremely proud of myself when I am able to take even a single step towards alleviating his/her pain.
Click to expand...

Its pointless to argue with someone who believes he is Jesus. Yes and when you see a beetle in the road you walk around it, I know.

Maybe cryptic is Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul or Gandhi posting from beyond the grave... :laugh:
 
LADoc00 said:
And yes, my ribaldry is quite in order as I dont find it neccessary to maintain an aloof and genteel deportment in the company of such fine hobnobbers.
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My dear LADoc00, I am afraid that you have now been found guilty of paying us a compliment! 😉
 
What about the suffering of those who have to listen to others telling us what we should think and how insensitive we are? We are suffering as well. 😉
 
deschutes said:
Long-suffering, as the case may be... 😉
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Are you comparing the suffering of someone with a disease to someone who is merely being corrected for being "insensitive?" How dare you! You are going to be a bad doctor and I pity your patients. 😛
 
yaah said:
Are you comparing the suffering of someone with a disease to someone who is merely being corrected for being "insensitive?" How dare you! You are going to be a bad doctor and I pity your patients. 😛
Click to expand...
Correction: chronically-corrected for being insensitive.

Are you implying that mental anguish is somehow lesser than physical pathology? 😛
 
yaah said:
One man's "insensitive" is another's "enlightened" or "thoughtful."
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To illustrate:

Marvin: I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer at great length and explained my view of the Universe to it.
Ford: ... And what happened?
Marvin: It committed suicide.

Master_SiteArticle289870.jpg
 
I interviewed with the gentleman who was infected with HIV from an autopsy, and the disrespect shown to him on this thread makes me sick. Just because people here can hide behind their nicknames and avatars doesn't mean it's okay to say such nasty things about another human being, especially a fellow pathologist--and on a pathology board! Geez.
 
stormjen said:
I interviewed with the gentleman who was infected with HIV from an autopsy, and the disrespect shown to him on this thread makes me sick. Just because people here can hide behind their nicknames and avatars doesn't mean it's okay to say such nasty things about another human being, especially a fellow pathologist--and on a pathology board! Geez.
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How is raising the oh so obvious possibility he may not have been infected as the result of an autopsy nasty?

If I got HIV the first thing that would spring to mind would not be to write a self-aggrandizing book about it. That ensures you are gonna get made fun of.

**If we cant make fun of fellow pathologists, pathology, medicine in general and ourselves on this board, where can we I ask!

wtf.gif
 
I've already said my piece on this and am not going to say much more. This doctor doesn't need us defending him and probably shouldn't care if anyone criticizes him. He's been through enough and is obviously strong enough to handle it and what others say shouldn't bother him. He's probably very impressive to talk to and we could learn a lot, but the above arguments are still interesting to consider.
 
stormjen said:
I interviewed with the gentleman who was infected with HIV from an autopsy, and the disrespect shown to him on this thread makes me sick. Just because people here can hide behind their nicknames and avatars doesn't mean it's okay to say such nasty things about another human being, especially a fellow pathologist--and on a pathology board! Geez.
Click to expand...



Don't get your panties in a bunch...

Ya ever consider taking a walk across a busy freeway?
 
Harbster said:
Ya ever consider taking a walk across a busy freeway?
Click to expand...

Now why would you say that to someone? That's just sad. I've noticed that internet message boards in general are cesspools of negativity, and one would think that a board populated by DOCTORS would be an exception. To wish that someone have an accident for expressing disapproval is terrible and the kind of thing that should cause someone to be banned. But for whatever reason, stuff flies here that wouldn't fly if we were talking in person.
 
stormjen said:
Now why would you say that to someone? That's just sad. I've noticed that internet message boards in general are cesspools of negativity, and one would think that a board populated by DOCTORS would be an exception. To wish that someone have an accident for expressing disapproval is terrible and the kind of thing that should cause someone to be banned. But for whatever reason, stuff flies here that wouldn't fly if we were talking in person.
Click to expand...

An alternate explanation would be that it is not wise to take things said on a message board so literally and/or seriously.

It is also wise, however, to avoid direct personal attacks, so your point should be noted.
 
stormjen said:
Now why would you say that to someone? That's just sad. I've noticed that internet message boards in general are cesspools of negativity, and one would think that a board populated by DOCTORS would be an exception. To wish that someone have an accident for expressing disapproval is terrible and the kind of thing that should cause someone to be banned. But for whatever reason, stuff flies here that wouldn't fly if we were talking in person.
Click to expand...

Don't take it too seriously...it's all in good fun. Life is short...enjoy it while you can.

Drink up! 😀
 
I suppose I do tend to take things at face value. I shall drinketh.
 
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