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Join the Discussion
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"This whole visit was geared towards talking reasonably with her but she didn't seem interested. It was hard for me to get a word in edgewise. I am so silly I thought I would be able to waltz in with my research and well prepared counter points that she and I would have a meaningful conversation..."
LINDY
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by Mary J. Shomon
6. Your doctor doesn’t listen.
- Does your doctor pop in and out of the examining room or office to take phone calls while you are having an appointment?
- Does your doctor sit at his or her desk and read, go through mail, or type on the computer while you are having an appointment?
- Do you find that your doctor is asking you the same questions over and over, indicating that he or she doesn’t remember what you’ve said?
7. Your doctor doesn’t see the bigger picture.
- Does your doctor view each appointment independently, and not remember symptoms or conditions you’ve had in the past?
- Does your doctor fail to pull our your chart and review your history for a few moments to look for patterns in symptoms?
- Do you get the feeling like your doctor never has read your chart or history?
8. Your doctor is influenced by a pharmaceutical company.
- Does your doctor have mousepads, pens, pencils, prescription pads, calendars, mugs, patient information literature, wall charts and posters, and other paraphernalia with drug or pharmaceutical company logos plastered on them?
- Does your doctor refuse to allow you to switch to competing brands of drugs, but fails to provide a rational reason other than “this drug is just better?”
9. Your doctor is arrogant or rude.
- 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?
10. Your doctor is not your partner in wellness.
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.
First page > Your doc won't listen? 5 more signs you need to make a change > Page 1, 2
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