Myths about doctors

Patients still have a number of misconceptions about doctors.

These include the following.

1. All doctors are equally competent

2. All doctors have the same interests and expertise

3. You can judge a doctor's competence by his bedside manner

4. A doctor's reputation is a good benchmark of his medical skills.

Not only do patients have misconceptions about doctors, even doctors harbour misconceptions about themselves !

This list is from Dr. David Newman in his book Hippocrates’ Shadow: Secrets From The House Of Medicine).

1. Physicians don’t know as much as you think they do.
2. Doctors do know that many of the tests, drugs and procedures they order and prescribe either do not work or have not been proven to work.
3. Doctors disagree about everything.
4. Doctors like ordering tests better than they like listening to you.

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