As a medical professional and a medically complicated human this is very important to me
That’s not wrong.
The tone of both comments is what causes poor doctor-patient relationships. Don’t underestimate how much education a doctor has. This doesn’t simply stop with medical school. It continues during residency and fellowship. For good doctors, this continues during practice. Good doctors stay up to date with medical guidelines and the changes that occur over time. Good doctors will research any condition their patient has with which they’re unfamiliar. Good doctors will listen to their patients and gently correct errors and misconceptions. Unfortunately, not all doctors are good doctors.
On the other hand, I’ve learned tons from my patients. Things that no book will ever teach me. As a patient, you deserve to be treated respectfully. Most doctors do their best to listen to their patients. No one puts in the time and effort required to be a physician with the goal of being a shit doctor. Of course, it happens. Doctors are humans and are just as flawed as everyone else. That’s the exception rather than the rule. Please respect the fact that we have a better filter for information than you do, regardless of how long you’ve had an illness. When patients request a specific test that I know is not indicated, I ask WHY. When a patient thinks they have an illness that that subjective and objective data do not support, I ask WHY. What are they concerned about? What is their fear? This is the question that needs to be addressed. That information generally allows me to either come up with a different, more appropriate test or list the reasons why their fear isn’t likely to be a reality. It’s all a two-way street that requires respect from all parties involved. Don’t go to a doctor who doesn’t respect you. Don’t go to a doctor who makes you uncomfortable. Don’t go to a doctor who is overly dismissive of your concerns. These are all red flags that you’re dealing with an asshole who just happens to be a doctor.
There is much learning in this post.
For #medblr readers, @captainmdphd nails the key point:
I ask WHY. What are they concerned about? What is their fear? This is the question that needs to be addressed.
Accurate. Patient-physician relationships should not be antagonistic or one-sided. They are mutual and we learn from each other. When either party takes on a snarky or dismissive tone, we all lose out. A doctor is useless and even damaging to the patient when they don’t listen. A patient may not be able to get the exam, tests, or referrals they need to get better if they walk in with the presumption that all doctors are unreliable assholes.
QueerGalaxies 