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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
FEATURES 6A Can patients record doctors? Dear Annie: I’ve seen sev- eral doctors recently, and each time I noticed that they gave a lot of information so quickly that I could not absorb it all, nor could I remember it entirely. I also received written instruc- tions after a recent surgery, but those weren’t particularly good, either. Part of the instructions included a form that was illed out by the doctor, whose hand- writing I had dificulty reading. Ideally, all information would be typed up and handed to the patient. Granted, it takes time for someone to do this, but it’s the patients’ health we are deal- ing with. If the doctor refuses to provide this, I suggest bringing a voice recorder. Turn it on when you’re told “the doctor will see you shortly,” and make sure the doctor speaks clearly. Ask them to repeat anything if you don’t think it came across. Ask the doc- tor to explain medical terms that are used routinely, but that you may not understand. Are there any legal issues involved in doing this? Of course, doctors should be informed that they are being recorded. — Get It Right Dear Get: If you are recording Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar the doctor’s instructions for your personal and private use, there should be no objection — legal or otherwise. But most doctors have computerized systems, and in many instances, test results and instructions can be sent to patients via email. Ask your doctor about this. Hospitals also should be handing you typed post-surgi- cal instructions. Of course, it is important to read through every- thing and to call your doctor if you do not understand something. Too many patients are reluctant to phone or email their doctor, because they don’t want to be a nuisance. But it is important to be proactive about your health care. Doctors don’t want you to misin- terpret their instructions, either. Dear Annie: I don’t enjoy going to movies any longer. Why? Because anything rated PG-13 and up is usually laced with gross profanity. I simply don’t enjoy listening to this kind of language. I recently agreed to accom- pany my husband to a movie that received good reviews and starred two well-known actors. When I left the theater, I was convinced that the writers of this movie must have not gone further than the fourth grade. Nearly every sentence had the f-word. Are these writers so lim- ited in their knowledge of our language and vocabulary? All of that profanity distracted from what could have been an inter- esting movie. We have become desensitized to all the profanity around us. I’d love to see a sophisticated ilm for adults that doesn’t offend my ears. Am I the only one who feels this way? — No Movies for Me Dear No: We can assure you that others ind the vulgar lan- guage (not to mention the gratu- itous violence and sex) equally objectionable. There are mov- ies that do not pander to the low- est common denominator. You can look online for various web- sites that list clean-language ilms, some of which may also be sophisticated adult ilms. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016 Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You might be afraid that if you accept help, it will indebt you to a person. That’s not the case today, so go ahead and let others do some of the work when they offer. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). No one said you had to be easygoing all of the time. You have needs that might put you into the “high-maintenance” category. So what? You’re not always like this. Loosen up, and let off some steam. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Remember that every difficult situation is an environ- ment to grow — creatively, spiritually and personally. You’re up to the challenge and you’ll answer the call. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re not worried about what they think of you, be- cause you’re not convinced that they think of you at all. Other people are thinking primarily about themselves. That’s a liberating fact. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You crave the sweet life. What does that mean to you? You definitely want to spend time with the ones who make you feel that life is so good. Your favorite foods and pleasures will be part of this, too. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll share your feelings with enthusiasm. This bold- ness is what makes you someone’s favorite person. Actually, more than one will claim you as a favorite today. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Check your own motives. You thought you were in a situation for one reason, and you’ll likely figure out that it was only the start of it. Your needs go deeper than you think. Success depends on understanding what motivates you. FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Do not un- derestimate your opponent. People are ca- pable of more than you think, and that in- cludes you, too. Also, if you have the choice, play the long game. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re almost ready to break out of the pattern that was holding you back. The only thing is, there’s something warm, familiar and com- fortable in this that you still need. You’ll need to develop new coping mechanisms. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Write it down; write all of it down. These are the de- tails you won’t want to miss. Plus, you’re not likely to keep it straight and stay on task un- less you get it down on paper — “old school” style. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your dedi- cation will pay off eventually. Right now, you’ll feel the muscle strain that comes with put- ting in more work. There’s no shortcut. You’ll know it was enough work when you see the result. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You have tal- ents that the others can’t appreciate; it’s true. That’s why you need to meet new people — people who truly get who you are. You de- serve to be deeply appreciated, not merely tolerated. THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 16). There will be good news for your family in the next six weeks. This will be hard work, but after the initial push you’ll get the help of a mentor and a strong team. You’ll set out to make your mark on the world, and you’ll do it, too. The next six weeks show you acquir- ing a skill you’ll use for years to come. Love signs are Libra and Leo. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 2, 33, 38 and 18.
