- Is your doctor one of those men or women who truly think they are “holier than thou” and act accordingly?
- Does your doctor make you wait for extremely long periods of time, but never apologizes for the delays or for making you wait?
- Would your doctor NEVER say “I don't know the answer?”
- Does your doctor interrupt you or act impatient when you are speaking?
- Does your doctor ever talk to you in a condescending or patronizing way, as if he or she thought you weren't very bright, or were a child?
Ideally, we want our doctors to quickly diagnose and cure us, and sometimes this is the case. But there are times when your doctor may not be able to make you well. The best he or she may be able to do is help minimize symptoms, optimize your health as best as possible, or make you more comfortable given a particular condition. A doctor who is your partner in wellness will work with you to explore the situation, get the best possible diagnosis, explore treatments, finetune treatments as necessary – working in partnership with you. A doctor who is your partner will treat you with courtesy and respect, will listen to you, and will incorporate you into the decisionmaking process.
Remember, of course, that there is no perfect doctor. A great doctor may have almost every quality you want, but be a bit more costly than you'd like. Or you may have the best doctor, but he or she always runs late and keeps you waiting. Or the doctor is so popular you have a 4 month waiting list for routine appointments. You can't expect perfection!
But do expect a doctor who will make his or her best effort on your behalf. You and your health deserve it!
For ideas on doctors that patients have recommended, see the state and country-specific listings of doctors at the Thyroid Top Doctors Directory.
