Just like some patients can be "difficult", so can some doctors ( though this is not something most doctors would acknowledge - at least not about themselves !) Doctors can be rude; inconsiderate; hurtful and insulting.
A good example would be the doctor who answers a patient's queries by saying - "Are you the doctor or am I ?" These doctors have an inflated sense of self-worth, and enjoy
putting patients in their place.
Patients need to remember that no doctor can survive without patients, and there is no need for you to put up with such behaviour. Medicine is a service profession
and any doctor who is not willing to serve his patients is not a good doctor.
Sometimes patients get intimidated by a doctor's reputation or his entourage of
assistants, but you cannot afford to leave your brains or your self-respect at home when you visit your doctor !
If you are fortunate enough to be paying your doctor ( fee for service), your best option would be to walk out. But even if you are in an HMO, you still have options, so don't feel helpless !
I saw an m.d. for more than twelve years when one day I saw a different m.d. in the large suburban group of m.d.s. Her "assistant" was wearing perfume. I waited a very long time in a small cold roo, saw patient leave who came in when I did gave a note to staff went to outer waiting room. Was put back into the small cold room. After a long time of cold and pain I left after giving another note to the staff. That same day the m.d. dropped me from the entire group including the man I'd seen for more than ten years. I was there for chronic pain. I did not receive any information as towhere I might go until I asked for it. I felt totally disrespected, misunderstood, uncared for, the dropping m.d. abused her power as medical director.
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