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A Navy SEAL was convinced exposure to blasts damaged his brain, so he donated it to science to prove it (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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“We’re really at an infant stage in terms of our clinical ability to assess traumatic brain injury,” a medical expert said.

Before he ended his life, Ryan Larkin made his family promise to donate his brain to science.

The 29-year-old Navy SEAL was convinced years of exposure to blasts had badly damaged his brain, despite doctors telling him otherwise. He had downloaded dozens of research papers on traumatic brain injury out of frustration that no one was taking him seriously, his father said.

“He knew,” Frank Larkin said. “I’ve grown to understand that he was out to prove that he was hurt, and he wasn’t crazy.”

In 2017, a postmortem study found that Ryan Larkin, a combat medic and instructor who taught SEALs how to breach buildings with explosives, had a pattern of brain scarring unique to service members who’ve endured repeated explosions.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (46 children)

Why is it so hard for doctors to take people seriously sometimes? I guess probably because of crazy people insisting there are worms in their skin, but it’s still unfortunate

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (26 children)

Because we don't want doctors guessing or being creative. They're not the R&D creating engines, they're the mechanics.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (2 children)

"hi my car is making a noise that sounds exactly like a faulty wheel bearing. I think my wheel bearing is broken."

"No, it's not. You can go now."

I don't see how this analogy makes their arrogant dismissals any better.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I recall a mechanic changing a flat on my motorcycle acting pissy I was watching. I just had nothing better to do, far from home with a delaminating tire at shop out of walking distance to anywhere. I happened to catch him torquing the rear axle to sealed bearing specs. "DUDE....those are taper bearings in that hub" he quit giving me dirty looks. Now see a doctor would have yelled at me for googling how to pack a taper bearing 5 years before, and learning the difference years before that. Because of shitty doctors, I've also learned to prelimary determine if it's appendicitis or not. We both fucling well knew it wasn't a UTI but weren't getting much help, but at least set our.minds at ease she probably wasn't dying.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Their actions are correct. The attitudes are not. That's absolutely fair. They need to just say "I don't know".

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Telling people to leave because they don't know is also not okay.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I'm confused. Then what should a doctor say when they don't know the answer?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

"I don't know but let's find out together". Requires confidence to say though.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Refer them to someone who may know the answer. Not blindly dismiss.

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