There’s probably no worse time to lie than at the doctor's. While it’s understandable that people don’t want to feel judged, embarrassed, or lectured by their health provider, even a half-lie when it comes to our health can have some detrimental consequences.
To prove that telling nothing but the truth and only the truth to the doctors is crucial, we gathered some of the most unbelievable stories about patients who did the opposite. Scroll down to find them below, but be warned that some of them get quite intense.
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with Dr. Cortney S. Warren, ABPP, board-certified clinical psychologist and author of Letting Go of Your Ex and Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self-Deception, who kindly agreed to talk with us more about lying patients.
#1
One of my relatives had a bad reaction to amoxicillin as a child; Puffy face, trouble breathing, emergency room visit bad.
Fast forward fifteen years, she's off at college and has come down with some sort of infection.
She, however, didn't inform the campus health people, because, and I quote, "Allergies are caused by a bad diet, and since I'm a vegetarian I shouldn't have them any more."
Yeah. They prescribed her amoxicillin, and, if it weren't for her roommate being home to call an ambulance she'd have been dead.
Fast forward fifteen years, she's off at college and has come down with some sort of infection.
She, however, didn't inform the campus health people, because, and I quote, "Allergies are caused by a bad diet, and since I'm a vegetarian I shouldn't have them any more."
Yeah. They prescribed her amoxicillin, and, if it weren't for her roommate being home to call an ambulance she'd have been dead.
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105points
#2
Paramedic here, one common one is when older guys are having chest pain and we want to give them nitroglycerin paste/pills to help the chest pain.
One thing that doesn't mix well is nitro and Viagra...it causes a blood pressure drop that can be really dangerous.
We always ask and make it really clear that if we give the nitro and they are taking Viagra and similar meds that they could die. It usually takes 3 or 4 warnings in a row before the guy will admit it.
Early on I made the mistake of trusting a guy after just a couple mentions of how dangerous it would be.
I sprayed the nitro under his tongue and he said "does generic Viagra count?"
F**k.
At one point his BP wasn't even registering on the box cuff, it was bad. I thought I was going to get screamed at by my doctor, but he just laughed and said it was so common that he wasn't upset, and gave me a couple ideas on how to make it clear how dangerous it was to the patient.
One thing that doesn't mix well is nitro and Viagra...it causes a blood pressure drop that can be really dangerous.
We always ask and make it really clear that if we give the nitro and they are taking Viagra and similar meds that they could die. It usually takes 3 or 4 warnings in a row before the guy will admit it.
Early on I made the mistake of trusting a guy after just a couple mentions of how dangerous it would be.
I sprayed the nitro under his tongue and he said "does generic Viagra count?"
F**k.
At one point his BP wasn't even registering on the box cuff, it was bad. I thought I was going to get screamed at by my doctor, but he just laughed and said it was so common that he wasn't upset, and gave me a couple ideas on how to make it clear how dangerous it was to the patient.
101points
#3
When patients lie and say they haven't eaten anything prior to elective surgery when they have. I caught a patient snaffling biscuits that her partner had brought in for her because we are "so cruel" to deny her food. People can die from aspirating stomach contents during a GA.
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93points
According to statistics, many patients aren't truthful with their doctors. The latest survey results show that 77% of people have lied or withheld important information from their physicians.
The survey also found that patients are most likely to be dishonest about their lifestyle, particularly their alcohol consumption (25%), eating habits (23%), exercise routine (23%), and sexual history (21%). Around 20% even admitted to lying about their symptoms.
#4
I work in an STD clinic, so the stuff I deal with isn't usually deadly or at least not immediately deadly. However, I am constantly surprised by the percentage of patients who test positive and refuse to tell their partners.
A guy came in a few years ago who for something relatively simple like gonorrhea, but seemed to have trouble walking. Long story short a nurse called an ambulance for him and sent him to the ER for a spinal tap. Turns out an ex boyfriend refused to tell him about his syphilis diagnosis after they had a rough break up like 15-20 years earlier. So not only was our guy possibly spreading syphilis unknowingly, he now had untreatable neurosyphilis. He worked with our Disease Intervention Specialists to track down as many partners as they could but I think he died from related complications like a year after his initial visit.
A guy came in a few years ago who for something relatively simple like gonorrhea, but seemed to have trouble walking. Long story short a nurse called an ambulance for him and sent him to the ER for a spinal tap. Turns out an ex boyfriend refused to tell him about his syphilis diagnosis after they had a rough break up like 15-20 years earlier. So not only was our guy possibly spreading syphilis unknowingly, he now had untreatable neurosyphilis. He worked with our Disease Intervention Specialists to track down as many partners as they could but I think he died from related complications like a year after his initial visit.
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93points
#5
The most frequent one is that they don't need a specific antibiotic or other life saving d**g because it is really just too expensive for them to afford. The fault is mostly with the d**g companies. They find out they are the only ones making a specific d**g and they raise the price just because they can. Then the insurance stops covering it and the doctors may not learn any of this until the pharmacies start calling his office to get the d**g changed to something else. But there is no telling how many people die or suffer serious health problems because of the d**g and insurance company's greed. A lot of people get less than ideal treatment simply because of these middle men trying to get their cut.
85points
#6
Jesus. Nurse here. We dont care. We dont care about your history, your finances, your social scene, your anything. We just want to help you. Christ. We really don't care about anything except that you are a human being, and we want to help you. Please people. Tell the truth. It will save your live.
82points
"As a psychologist with an expertise in self-deception, I assume all of my clients lie to me about something at some point. Some will probably lie regularly. Depending on the patient population and frequency with which they perceive a client to lie, I think that most therapists are on the lookout for lies that may be very common but important to the clinical presentation and experience of our clients," says board-certified clinical psychologist Dr. Cortney S. Warren.
"For example, as someone who specializes in eating disorders and addictive behavior, many of my patients lie to me about how much food they are eating, how often they are binge eating and purging, and when they last used drugs or alcohol. I generally assume this to be the case and am on the lookout for indications that they aren’t telling me the full truth."
#7
Not a doctor but my sisters godfather was diabetic. He went to the ER because he had a really bad cold for like 2 weeks. He went in and they asked him if he was a diabetic and for some reason he said no. Long story short they gave him something that made his sugar levels go up and he went into a coma. He died about a month later because his organs shutdown.
Edit: he was only 32 years old just in case anyone was wondering.
Edit: he was only 32 years old just in case anyone was wondering.
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78points
#8
I'm not a doctor but a patient with a couple of really weird disorders that cause doctors who arent familiar with them to think I am taking. I have been denied very needed basic treatment like a bag of saline because my dehydration is exasperating my symptoms because they think I'm somehow gaming the system. These assumptions that patients are lying do a lot of harm, too.
70points
#9
I was a L&D RN. My coworker had a patient show up in labor, she was 6 cm. I was helping get the room set up for delivery, and the patient's mom started to ask her, "So does that mean the baby -" and the patient violently shushes her.
Her doctor wasn't on that night and that office didn't have electronic records we could access at night, so we're just going about prepping for this delivery, when her doctor happened to come into the nurse's station because she had to come in for a medical patient on another unit. She just stopped by to chat, but noticed that patient on the board and asks, "Oh, so her baby actually flipped?"
Turns out the kid had been breech all pregnancy, and was still breech. She didn't want a c-section so she figured she'd just try to come in so far dilated that she could just deliver. That would have been okay if she was frank breech (butt down) since it wasn't her first baby, but she was footling breech (crossed legs with feet down). That's dangerous as hell, because it's super easy for the umbilical cord to come out first instead of the baby, which cuts off baby's oxygen (my fourth was head down and this ended up happening to me anyway - emergency c-section in less than 10 minutes). Her baby was so lucky her water hadn't broken, especially if she'd been at home still.
She still kept refusing the c-section, and my coworker finally snapped. We had another patient who was in for a stillbirth, and had a lot of family down in our waiting room trying to process what had happened. My coworker asks if her patient had noticed all the crying people at the end of the hall, as they were mourning their dead baby, and would she rather have a c-section, or deal with the grief that family had?
She finally got the stupid c-section. My coworker caught a lot of flak for checking that patient and not noticing she wasn't feeling a head.
Her doctor wasn't on that night and that office didn't have electronic records we could access at night, so we're just going about prepping for this delivery, when her doctor happened to come into the nurse's station because she had to come in for a medical patient on another unit. She just stopped by to chat, but noticed that patient on the board and asks, "Oh, so her baby actually flipped?"
Turns out the kid had been breech all pregnancy, and was still breech. She didn't want a c-section so she figured she'd just try to come in so far dilated that she could just deliver. That would have been okay if she was frank breech (butt down) since it wasn't her first baby, but she was footling breech (crossed legs with feet down). That's dangerous as hell, because it's super easy for the umbilical cord to come out first instead of the baby, which cuts off baby's oxygen (my fourth was head down and this ended up happening to me anyway - emergency c-section in less than 10 minutes). Her baby was so lucky her water hadn't broken, especially if she'd been at home still.
She still kept refusing the c-section, and my coworker finally snapped. We had another patient who was in for a stillbirth, and had a lot of family down in our waiting room trying to process what had happened. My coworker asks if her patient had noticed all the crying people at the end of the hall, as they were mourning their dead baby, and would she rather have a c-section, or deal with the grief that family had?
She finally got the stupid c-section. My coworker caught a lot of flak for checking that patient and not noticing she wasn't feeling a head.
68points
Dr. Warren says that the main reason patients color the truth is fear. Fear of judgment, embarrassment, and consequences. They could also choose to lie in order to look healthier than they are, get approval, and maintain control. Additionally, they might be in denial or feel like they can trust the medical professional.
Even though it's understandable why patients mislead doctors, we have to understand that being dishonest with a physician can have dire consequences. When people are coloring the truth or withholding information, doctors can't accurately diagnose, treat, and advise them.
These stories on the list are just some examples of how people voluntarily put their lives on the line because they chose to lie. Health is no joking matter, so we urge you to be honest with your medical professionals, as some lies can be really dangerous.
#10
I wasn’t the lead on this case, but I was the assist. When I was in dental school this patient came in and was really hyped up. My buddy asked him if he has been on any d***s and the guy just said he had a lot of caffeine. OK-we move forward. From what my friend told me his blood pressure was high, but not too high for an elective procedure.
Part of the local numbing we give patients has epinephrine in it and sometimes this gets into the bloodstream with certain types of nerve blocks, not uncommon. However, if you’ve snorted a couple lines of c*****e and then get epi in your bloodstream that’s no bueno. Ended up calling the ambulance, his BP was so high he was at risk for a stroke. So yeah, even stuff the dentist does can k**l you if you lie.
Part of the local numbing we give patients has epinephrine in it and sometimes this gets into the bloodstream with certain types of nerve blocks, not uncommon. However, if you’ve snorted a couple lines of c*****e and then get epi in your bloodstream that’s no bueno. Ended up calling the ambulance, his BP was so high he was at risk for a stroke. So yeah, even stuff the dentist does can k**l you if you lie.
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61points
#11
Social Worker at a children's hospital. We have kids coming in through our resuscitation room that have been seizing and are unconscious with no prior history. I'm constantly trying to get parents to tell me if there is a possibility that their toddler might have ingested something, "Does your kid have access to cannabis? Could they have eaten some?". Parents never want to admit it to doctors and so I'm always on a fact finding mission. As a social worker parents are either glad I'm there or they think I'm going to take their kids away...
PSA - cannabis can effect children in horrible, shut down your ability to breathe, kind of ways!
PSA - cannabis can effect children in horrible, shut down your ability to breathe, kind of ways!
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61points
#12
How about the opposite? I’ve moved a lot and when I visit a new doctor they often try to answer my health history for me.
‘Drinking? Smoking? Exercise and diet? Meh. You’re thin. So moderate, no, regular, healthy.’
None of that is accurate, but when I correct them I get ‘Oh. So is this a cry for help?’
What? No. I just want you to have the facts.
‘Drinking? Smoking? Exercise and diet? Meh. You’re thin. So moderate, no, regular, healthy.’
None of that is accurate, but when I correct them I get ‘Oh. So is this a cry for help?’
What? No. I just want you to have the facts.
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61points
#13
Middle-aged housewife comes to ED with episodes of headache and collapse/vacant episodes. Usually early hours of the morning. Has the full work-up with CT scans and lumbar punctures several times - always negative. It took several attendances before anyone asked her about recreational d***s (she was an unassuming suburban mum). Turns out she was into c*****e in a big way leading to reversible cerebral vasoconstriction. No more c*****e = no more headaches (and no lasting consequences luckily).
60points
#14
I was admitting patients in the psychiatric ward. Busy night, and I was way behind. An older man with s****o-affective disorder is admitted with a caretaker. A nurse asks them a few questions, including if the patient has taken any medicine and/or narcotics. The caretaker says no.
I see the patient 4 hours later. He seems delirious, which often is caused by a somatic problem (including medicine - you know where this is going). He can’t maintain eye contact and can only sit in his chair and talk nonsense. He drools and yells every word, but somehow seems very tired.
I ask the caretaker if the patient has taken any medication, and she says the patient broke into a medicine room at the the institution he lives and just started eating random pills.
Apparently this is somewhere around 80 pills not being more precise because she did not bother gathering the empty pillboxes. The only information I could get was, that he definitely ate over 40 lithium pills (which is just great if you really hate your kidneys).
Now, after calling the emergency department to quickly prep and an ambulance with an anaesthesiologist for transport, I talked with the caretaker (through my teeth - just slightly - angry). Apparently the nurse “wouldn’t understand” because it wasn’t his own medicine and she didn’t want to “make a fuss”. I screamed into my pillow that night in pure frustration.
I later found out he lived after intensive care and almost loosing his kidney function.
I see the patient 4 hours later. He seems delirious, which often is caused by a somatic problem (including medicine - you know where this is going). He can’t maintain eye contact and can only sit in his chair and talk nonsense. He drools and yells every word, but somehow seems very tired.
I ask the caretaker if the patient has taken any medication, and she says the patient broke into a medicine room at the the institution he lives and just started eating random pills.
Apparently this is somewhere around 80 pills not being more precise because she did not bother gathering the empty pillboxes. The only information I could get was, that he definitely ate over 40 lithium pills (which is just great if you really hate your kidneys).
Now, after calling the emergency department to quickly prep and an ambulance with an anaesthesiologist for transport, I talked with the caretaker (through my teeth - just slightly - angry). Apparently the nurse “wouldn’t understand” because it wasn’t his own medicine and she didn’t want to “make a fuss”. I screamed into my pillow that night in pure frustration.
I later found out he lived after intensive care and almost loosing his kidney function.
60points
#15
One of my patients was smoking in the bathroom while on oxygen. Could've ended very badly for him and others in the hospital.
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58points
#17
Not a doctor BUT I was in the ER once separated from another patient by only a thin curtain. It was impossible to not overhear what was going on. She was an elderly woman who had taken an ambulance in due to feeling faint and said she had no other symptoms.
Hours are going by, she gets up to use the washroom a couple times and makes small talk with her brother, sounding pretty woozy the whole time. Doctors keep checking on her, they draw blood and check her blood pressure. I think it was like remarkably low but they aren't sure why.
Cut to several hours later when a nurse notices there's some blood on the woman's bed. After some back-and-forth she finally admits that she had been bleeding profusely from her r****m for WEEKS.
The doctors gave her a hard time but got her out of there REAL fast.
Hours are going by, she gets up to use the washroom a couple times and makes small talk with her brother, sounding pretty woozy the whole time. Doctors keep checking on her, they draw blood and check her blood pressure. I think it was like remarkably low but they aren't sure why.
Cut to several hours later when a nurse notices there's some blood on the woman's bed. After some back-and-forth she finally admits that she had been bleeding profusely from her r****m for WEEKS.
The doctors gave her a hard time but got her out of there REAL fast.
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54points
#18
My cousin is an ER doctor and sees this quite a bit. Mostly people lying about having done d***s and underage drinking because they don't want to get in trouble, not understanding that the doctors are less concerned with that than they are making sure the person lives.
One particular incident the person had drunk quite a bit and done several kinds of d***s but wouldn't admit to it, and came in alone so there was no one to verify what had happened. Because this person wouldn't admit to the d***s they'd taken (and thus wouldn't tell the docs what they had taken) they had no way to help and could do little except watch as this person slowly died from the d**g and alcohol interactions because without knowing what was already in their system giving them anything could have only sped up the process. The person was a minor and passed away from massive organ failure because they were more worried about getting in trouble than saving their own life until it was far too late to admit the truth.
One particular incident the person had drunk quite a bit and done several kinds of d***s but wouldn't admit to it, and came in alone so there was no one to verify what had happened. Because this person wouldn't admit to the d***s they'd taken (and thus wouldn't tell the docs what they had taken) they had no way to help and could do little except watch as this person slowly died from the d**g and alcohol interactions because without knowing what was already in their system giving them anything could have only sped up the process. The person was a minor and passed away from massive organ failure because they were more worried about getting in trouble than saving their own life until it was far too late to admit the truth.
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54points
#19
Had a grandma who was basically comatose status in ER, whenever we could rouse her or get a word she stated she wasn't on any d***s, we YOLO gave her Narcan (narcotic od d**g) with no effect, 20-30 minutes later we do flumazenil / romazicon (benzo od d**g) and she wakes up. A lot of ppl weren't suspecting her of d**g OD given her age & statement so they were thinking 900 different routes.
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51points
#20
Had a relative that went in for surgery on his stomach. There were holes in the lining that were caused by painkiller abuse. No one at the time knew what was causing this except for my relative. Doc asks him if he was on any medications, relative says no, they put him under, he didn't wake up. His toxicology showed oxycodone and hydrocodone. Don't lie to doctors. They don't tell anyone about your medical problems anyways.
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51points