How to know when to fire your doctor.
" Your fired "
Have you ever been to the doctors and waited for what seemed like an eternity to be seen? Then once inside the exam room you are forced to now wait while wrapped in a paper garment for another twenty minutes or so, wishing you had brought the magazine you had been reading in the waiting room with you. It's not just the waiting that is frustrating, it's the attitude and lack of bedside manners you are greeted with once the Doc finally gets to you. This only adds to your already mounting frustration and makes you want to emulate Donald Trump as soon as he enters the room, " Your Fired!"
Unfortunately some doctors feel they have an abundance of job security. Especially the ones who have studied a specialty. Surgeons and Cardiologist are at the top of the list. ( at least in my experiences. ) Anyone who has worked in a hospital know's exactly what I mean. But for those of you who have not, these doctors strut through the halls with their heads so high; they dust the ceiling tiles as they rush by you on their way to the doctors lounge without ever making eye contact with anything but the heavens.
If you have ever found yourself in the office or hospital with this type of doctor, know your rights. Even If he has come to you highly recommended and regarded amongst his peers as " The best," you still are the one in charge! I have found the best way to handle the ego filled doctor is to speak to him in big words. If you have the time and the tools, search the web for your condition. This way you will be familiar with the course of treatment, side effects and general diagnosis. However, some doc's may get irritated with you for trying to one up them with your new found knowledge and suggestions of treatment. They don't take kindly to you questioning them, after-all they are the ones that spent over 8 years studying their profession and lets face it, they are exempt from making any kind of mistakes. So proceed with caution. You may want to keep in the back of your mind that the academic requirements to be a doctor does not include bed side etiquette, this means they have never been educated in the art of empathy, patience or common courtesy. They will not hold your hand or comfort your family members. They won't spend anymore time than is absolutely necessary speaking with you or family members regarding your condition, that is the nurses job. Unfortunately, while the nurses would love to sit with you and offer back rubs, like in the early days, they are now bound to the nursing station filling out required paper work to cover there's and the Doctor's hides with tedious documentation of everything they do.
So what can you do if you are presented with this type of physician. Firstly, he is working for you, and only you. Your life and care is more important than the initials that follow his name. If you feel he has not answered all your questions, tell him you have more. Write down question prior to your office visit in case you get nervous and have trouble remembering all you need to ask. Have a family member with you incase you are on medicine that might render you forgetful or if your anything like me, and are just plain forgetful. If your doctor has difficulty explaining your condition and seems to get frustrated with you for not understanding what took him 8 years to learn, and refuses to explain it in terms you can understand then maybe it’s time to get a second opinion. You may get lucky and the next doctor will actually believe in the oath they took. If not, remember, you are the boss and reserve the right to say, “ YOUR FIRED.”
