Twitter Feud in Medical Circles: A Single Tweet Sparks a Dispute Between Two Medical Specialties Regarding Advocacy
In a poignant legacy post, Erin King-Mullins, a colorectal surgeon and chairperson of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, shared her experience when her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter fell at school and hit her head. The children's hospital where the ER is located was just a couple blocks away from her daughter's daycare.
King-Mullins' tweet about her daughter's trip to the ER sparked criticism from some ER specialists who felt she was belittling their expertise. However, King-Mullins' position as a medical professional allowed her to request a specialty consultation, a privilege not everyone has equal access to.
King-Mullins requested a plastic surgery evaluation for her daughter's wound due to its depth and location, and the potential effects on her dark skin. A plastics resident skillfully repaired the wound in two layers using extremely fine sutures. The resident also provided literature on wound care, scar massage, techniques to prevent abnormal pigmentation, and follow-up needs.
King-Mullins acknowledges the skill and scope of practice of ER physicians but emphasizes that her request for a plastics consult highlighted inequities in medicine. She recounts her personal anecdote about her injured finger as a child, when she was not initially offered the care she should have been.
Despite the criticism, King-Mullins expresses gratitude towards all healthcare workers during a difficult time. She encourages healthcare workers to exercise humility in dealing with patients and their advocates, and to consider cultural and social differences in providing patient-centered care.
Studies show higher survival rates of colorectal cancer patients when their surgery is performed by a colorectal surgeon as opposed to a general surgeon. King-Mullins, being a colorectal surgeon herself, is well-versed in the importance of specialised care.
The topic of King-Mullins' article includes decision making, pediatrics, race, and the importance of patient/parent advocacy. King-Mullins' tweet about her daughter's ER visit was not just a personal anecdote, but a call to action for a more equitable healthcare system.
