If You Only Knew ...
Reader's Digest offered two dozen doctors a chance to tell it like it really is, and general practitioners, surgeons, shrinks, pediatricians, and other specialists took the challenge. Some wanted to be anonymous; some didn't care. But all of them revealed funny, frightening, and downright shocking things that can help you be a better, smarter patient.
Oh, you doctors think you're being sneaky keeping these secrets, huh? Well Reader's Digest has got your number! None of these really surprise me.
And I thought it was funny when one of the physicians gave Reader's Digest what was coming to it!
• I know that Reader's Digest recommends bringing in a complete list of all your symptoms, but every time you do, it only reinforces my desire to quit this profession.
--Douglas Farrago, MD
I thought that was pretty funny. Like him saying "Not even Reader's Digest, "Oprah condensed", is completely without fault here." I mean, seriously, that is like going on the Dr. Phil show or something and saying "I know Doctor Phil here always tells you _______ but the truth is ________". I'm honestly kind of surprised that they published that one.
This last one is the final one that I want to mention. You know it'll have people bringing their measuring tape from home. You know it.
• In many hospitals, the length of the white coat is related to the length of training. Medical students wear the shortest coats.So watch out you guys! I know all your tricks! You think you can fool everyone but you can't! Reader's Digestives will make sure of that! Don't you try to keep secrets while they're around, 'cuz they'll find them! Yeah, they will!
--Pediatrician, Baltimore
Oh, and make sure to stick with it until the last page. Priceless for those anal-retentive people who love to complain about bills.
3 comments:
Wow! There are some good docs out there & their are some pompous ones! I do not return to the pompous ones. I don't care what they know if they can't treat me like a reasonable human being. I was smart enough to go to medical school and chose not to. I don't like blood or guts or stinky people.
I have started visiting a physician's assistant 99% of the time - she takes time to listen to me, prescribes medicine that is appropriate, & actually knows my name. Shorter waiting time, too!
Didn't even know it was a sore subject, didja?
I think that most docs entered the field of medicine feeling very altruistic. I think the cynicism comes after years of jumping through hoops and cutting through red tape. I have had some great docs over the years, and, like Jenna, I don't go back to the other kind! Very interesting article, though!
I read that article and thought ..gee. I know all this stuff. It's not secret! Just read the blog world!!!
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