PhoenixBurger
Senior Member
- Messages
- 202
So after reading the previous similarly named thread, I thought about my recent correspondences with a guy I know who is also an ER doctor. I had the same experiences as Valentijn and many of you have had with doctors. So I wanted to drill this guy. Really present to him the frustrations and irritations in dealing with doctors and get his input.
here was his take on it:
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1) You would be shocked the type of patients we run into every day.
2) My wife and I have seen thousands and thousands of patients, half of which are ready to sue us. Think about that for a second. And most of them are rational and very intelligent people.
3) The litigious nature of our country, and especially with regards to medicine, makes practicing medicine a real headache sometimes.
When asked why doctors would rather call someone a hypochondriac than actually put some effort into finding the causes ...
4) Do you want the blunt truth? We have complex lives. We are just human. Sometimes we can't handle spending that much time on somebody else. That's just honesty. The problem is, I'm an ER doc and honestly don't know enough about the complexity of your situation to find an answer.
5) I have no problem with you dictating your own tests. But I would never be in a situation where I would feel comfortable treating you with medications for a complex issue that I don't understand myself! (My wife is much smarter as an internist and does try to tackle issues like these though.)
6) The problem is partially, that you are just as smart or smarter than most your doctors, probably. (Including me.) I think perhaps that intimidates a lot of physicians... ...but they also don't want the time suck.
7) You really are in a tough position.
When asked why doctors become doctors in the first place... is it ego or money?
8) The problem is I think we go into it all altruistic and wanting to be a mother Theresa and help, but then the establishment breaks us down and ruins us.
9) The problem is, modern medicine may not have an answer for what's going on with you. In fact, it most likely doesn't. Often times we just treat the symptoms.
10) Here's the problem: We do see bona fide hypochondriacs. All day.
-Burger-
here was his take on it:
-----------------
1) You would be shocked the type of patients we run into every day.
2) My wife and I have seen thousands and thousands of patients, half of which are ready to sue us. Think about that for a second. And most of them are rational and very intelligent people.
3) The litigious nature of our country, and especially with regards to medicine, makes practicing medicine a real headache sometimes.
When asked why doctors would rather call someone a hypochondriac than actually put some effort into finding the causes ...
4) Do you want the blunt truth? We have complex lives. We are just human. Sometimes we can't handle spending that much time on somebody else. That's just honesty. The problem is, I'm an ER doc and honestly don't know enough about the complexity of your situation to find an answer.
5) I have no problem with you dictating your own tests. But I would never be in a situation where I would feel comfortable treating you with medications for a complex issue that I don't understand myself! (My wife is much smarter as an internist and does try to tackle issues like these though.)
6) The problem is partially, that you are just as smart or smarter than most your doctors, probably. (Including me.) I think perhaps that intimidates a lot of physicians... ...but they also don't want the time suck.
7) You really are in a tough position.
When asked why doctors become doctors in the first place... is it ego or money?
8) The problem is I think we go into it all altruistic and wanting to be a mother Theresa and help, but then the establishment breaks us down and ruins us.
9) The problem is, modern medicine may not have an answer for what's going on with you. In fact, it most likely doesn't. Often times we just treat the symptoms.
10) Here's the problem: We do see bona fide hypochondriacs. All day.
-Burger-