Many friends of mine are doctors and they've expressed the same feelings. There are days when they absolutely love what they do, but as an outsider, I see them experiencing more low days than high days.
Just as an anecdote, part of it is the expectations of the patient population in the Bay Area - and I'm only referring to the high income neighborhoods here; the situation differs significantly in low income neighborhoods.
Patients from high income backgrounds tend to be much more demanding than patients from low income backgrounds. At Stanford, the doctors in the emergency department are (informally) expected to stop what they're doing and sing Happy Birthday to certain high income individuals.
A lot of doctors translate this to a lack of respect, which echoes the quoted statement in the article.
Here's another anecdote. While sites like WebMD are fantastic for educating the general public about health issues, it also makes some people falsely believe they know more than the doctors treating them. And I don't mean they simply question their doctors - that is a good practice and everyone should be as educated as they can about their own health. But apparently many people argue and flat out ignore their doctors, even when their own knowledge is tragically incorrect. As one doctor put it, "Why did they come and see me at all, if they are already convinced of what they have? Just to waste their own time and money, not to mention my time?"
Again, there are times when one should definitely question their doctor and be as educated as they can. Second, third, and additional opinions can be very useful. But I'm sure many doctors would appreciate less arrogance and animosity in their attitudes.
One more note. Apparently a very high number (between 75-99%) of all doctors will have faced a malpractice claim at least once in their career. Most of these claims are frivolous, but going through something like this is extremely demoralizing. A couple of doctors I know came close to leaving the profession because of it, even after they were cleared of all wrongdoing.
I once described the job of a project manager to a doctor friend as a "thankless profession," and he immediately said, "that sounds like my job too!"
> A lot of doctors translate this to a lack of respect, which echoes the quoted statement in the article.
Does this mean a lack of general respect, the type that all people deserve? Or is this some kind of extra respect and dererence due to their education or profession, which no one deserves?
Because I am constantly disrespected by the medical profession. I am sent email a day or two before each appointment, reminding me that late or canceled appointments are subject to cancellation fees, yet I have NEVER been seen on time by any doctor ever.
Just a general level of respect, from what I can gather. This is all second-hand info of course. But the stories they've told me seem to indicate this.
I should have added that my friends are specialists, not general practitioners. I've heard lots of complaints about general practitioners too, in terms of late and canceled appointments, little to no interaction, being rushed out the door, etc.
>>As one doctor put it, "Why did they come and see me at all, if they are already convinced of what they have? Just to waste their own time and money, not to mention my time?"
A lot of people are anxious that they are going to lose their jobs to automation. The profession of medicine should be no different. Whatever is happening to them is happening to nearly every single individual on earth.
>>I once described the job of a project manager to a doctor friend as a "thankless profession," and he immediately said, "that sounds like my job too!"
The job of a project manager is probably the job with the highest ROI on earth. Where else do you get paid big money, to do meta supervisory work, forward emails and approve leaves. While not moving a finger towards doing any actual work yourself.
> As one doctor put it, "Why did they come and see me at all, if they are already convinced of what they have? Just to waste their own time and money, not to mention my time?"
Because I can't write my own prescriptions. Doctors like to abuse this privilege to charge ridiculous 'consultation fees' for giving me what I already know I need. One recent example I had to deal with: travel vaccines. $50 + $10/shot in addition to the cost of the vaccines so the guy could go "uh-huh you do need those vaccines; here you are".
That's a legitimate reason. I believe people that come in simply seeking drugs make it tough on you. Enough people abuse this privilege that many (but certainly not all) doctors have become vary of writing prescriptions. I honestly don't know if this translates into high consultation fees though.
Just as an anecdote, part of it is the expectations of the patient population in the Bay Area - and I'm only referring to the high income neighborhoods here; the situation differs significantly in low income neighborhoods.
Patients from high income backgrounds tend to be much more demanding than patients from low income backgrounds. At Stanford, the doctors in the emergency department are (informally) expected to stop what they're doing and sing Happy Birthday to certain high income individuals.
A lot of doctors translate this to a lack of respect, which echoes the quoted statement in the article.
Here's another anecdote. While sites like WebMD are fantastic for educating the general public about health issues, it also makes some people falsely believe they know more than the doctors treating them. And I don't mean they simply question their doctors - that is a good practice and everyone should be as educated as they can about their own health. But apparently many people argue and flat out ignore their doctors, even when their own knowledge is tragically incorrect. As one doctor put it, "Why did they come and see me at all, if they are already convinced of what they have? Just to waste their own time and money, not to mention my time?"
Again, there are times when one should definitely question their doctor and be as educated as they can. Second, third, and additional opinions can be very useful. But I'm sure many doctors would appreciate less arrogance and animosity in their attitudes.
One more note. Apparently a very high number (between 75-99%) of all doctors will have faced a malpractice claim at least once in their career. Most of these claims are frivolous, but going through something like this is extremely demoralizing. A couple of doctors I know came close to leaving the profession because of it, even after they were cleared of all wrongdoing.
I once described the job of a project manager to a doctor friend as a "thankless profession," and he immediately said, "that sounds like my job too!"