[Serotonin]

I'm not just talking about mental health doctors such as psychiatrists and psychologists, I'm talking about regular medical doctors who treat physical complaints. In the the UK we call them "General Practitioners" (GP's).

I was diagnosed with depression in 1996, and then misdiagnosed with "Alcohol Dependence Syndrome" a short time later. I was self medicating with alcohol and drinking more than I usually did, and it was suggested that I had a dependence on alcohol, and that I should go in for relevant treatment. I refused, saying that I was not dependent on alcohol, and that I could greatly reduce my alcohol intake, or give it up completely if I wanted to, and I did. I have been virtually tee-total now for many years.

But ever since that misdiagnosis was made I have come into contact with quite a few regular medical doctors (GP's), and I have experienced what can only be described as a very poor attitude. Many of these medical practitioners seem like control freaks and megalomaniacs, more interested in exercising power, dominance, and control over their patients, than helping them with their problems. In fact, not only have they struck me as some of the most uncaring people I have ever come into contact with, some of them have attempted to use the nature of my problems against me, by attempting to intimidate, bully, and humiliate.

For example, I went to see a doc about abdominal pain (it turned out to be gallstones in my gall-bladder), and from the moment he led me into his surgery I could see that there was aggression in this doctor. His eyes, facial expression, and general overbearing demeanour communicated that he was attempting to intimidate and make me feel uneasy.

When I began to explain my symptoms he took a detectably flippant and frivolous approach, and instead of offering suggestions on what the problem could be, I got the distinct impression that not only was I not being taken seriously, but that this doctor was subtly attempting to demean and belittle, something which I found incredulous.

Whilst conducting his very brief and inadequate physical examination, which I had to ask him to repeat, I was subjected to an interrogation during which further snide insinuations were made, and was then manhandled off the couch, onto my feet, and towards the chair. I couldn't believe what I was experiencing.

This doctor could only be described as an aggressive control freak. His attempts at intimidation and humiliation were unbelievable and disturbing, and I got the distinct impression that he could turn very nasty at any given moment. When you visit a doctor you do so when you are unwell and in need of medical attention. You most certainly do not go to experience aggression, intimidation, humiliation, and manhandling.

The traditional doctor patient relationship where the doctor gave orders and the patient submissively obeyed created a situation where many doctors became obsessed not with providing quality healthcare for their patients, but with playing God, and exercising total dominance and control over them. This scenario has led to doctors effectively attempting to bully and harass patients, which not only detracts from their original duties, but which is in effect a dereliction of their responsibilities as a healthcare provider, and a blatant misuse and abuse of medical power.

A visit to the doctor should not be a stressful experience. Your doctor should not attempt to bully, intimidate, or humiliate you when you are ill and in need of his medical attention, or indeed at any other time. Astonishingly and regrettably, this is what I experienced with this doctor. I have also been treated in a very shoddy fashion by other doctors. One knew that I had "anxiety" in my medical history, and made it blatantly obvious that he was attempting to make me feel anxious. I was treated like dirt by another doctor when I had a badly injured knee due to a bicycle accident. He had absolutely no time for me, and was aggressively pompous and condescending, and very impatiently tore the bandage off my knee.

Should doctors be allowed to treat their patients in such a deplorable manner? Should they allow their personal likes, dislikes, values and prejudices to influence the nature of their conduct and attitude towards their patients? Should doctors be allowed to act like sociopaths and attempt to bully, intimidate, manhandle, and humiliate their patients?

I don't think so, and I have seriously contemplated making a complaint to the General Medical Council in the UK about the conduct of some doctors, but realistically, I know that no action would be taken against them, as it would essentially boil down to my word against theirs.

Have you ever had a similar experience of doctors?

How did you deal with it?

[sconnie892]

I can't say I've had that experience with an M.D. when seeking treatment for myself. I feel very lucky to have found my primary care physician. She and the nurses in her office are awesome.

That hasn't been the case at other clinics. I dealt with a really nasty nurse at a walk-in clinic. She was just rude and had a horrible attitude. When I told her I often get light-headed from shots, she didn't even offer to let me sit a few minutes to make sure I was okay. Just sent my on my way. I had to sit for about 30 minutes in my car till the dizziness went away. I never went back to that clinic again.

I've also dealt with some not so great doctors when helping my parents with medical issues. One doctor was so horrible when my dad was in the hospital we tried to get my dad transferred to another hospital. When I went to an appointment with my mom, the doctor basically ignored my mom and talked like she wasn't in the room.

The way I see it, I am paying a clinic/doctor for their services. It's no different than t, or any other business transaction. If I am not satisfied with the service, I find someone else.

[stopdog]

Yes. I do not use them anymore except in rare situations when I need a bone set or antibiotics.

I haven't personally run into this in my own care, but boy have we run into some doozies in my husband's medical care. He has reflex sympathetic dystrophy and has needed many surgeries over the last 27 years. We have observed that surgeons have the biggest egos and horrendous God complexes.

The worst was the doctor who did surgery to implant a spinal cord stimulator. My husband developed a severe post-operative infection and this idiot, because he refused to admit something he had done could have gone wrong, blamed my husband for the infection, refused to treat the infection, and told me to find another surgeon to remove the spinal cord stimulator because that was the only option. I finally found a local surgeon who would talk to me and he said I needed to get my husband to an infectious disease specialist immediately. He gave me the name of a local one who said my husband would be dead in 24 hours if not started on immediate I.V. surgical strength antibiotics. It took two months of infusions of two different antibiotics round the clock to cure the infection. Needless to say, we never returned to that surgeon.

[JustWannaDisappear]

Several years ago while in treatment for an ED I was having kidney problems. I have always had blood in my urine and they can't figure out why. I had a kidney specialist accuse me of pricking my finger and putting blood in my urine. To this day, 10yrs later I still have blood in my urine and get UTIs and kidney infections but I refuse to be seen because of it.

Continuing on the same line, I had to have a scope thingy (so technical lol) in my bladder. It was a different Dr and he saw my arms (I was a cutter) and flipped out on me and refused to treat me.

Another time more recently.. about 6yrs ago. I saw my GP and was on depression meds for Postpartum depression. I asked if I could get my thyroid tested. I was pretty overweight and it wasn't helping the depression. I have always exercised and for the most part eat healthy, yet I couldn't lose any weight. He told me, "it's not your thyroid, you just need to put the 500 calorie brownie down" He obviously didn't check my chart or didn't care that I was a recovered bulimic. That sent me straight into relapse.

Same GP as above. I needed to get my birth control refilled. I was complaining of pain and after my exam he said to get dressed and he would come in to talk to me. He came in and told me I had gonorrhea. I freaked out. He told me it was a bacteria in my body that flared during stress. Apparently he missed a few classes in High school. He offered to give me the shots or I could take the meds orally. I opted for the pills. I knew I didn't have an STD. It caused a HUGE fight with my husband and me. He asked how the Dr would say I have an STD and I say I don't. Well, the Dr never did any tests for it. After a couple of months I finally was able to go see an OB/GYN and he had never put it in my chart. Turns out I had endometriosis and needed surgery. It caused horrible issues with my husband and I and we were newlyweds.

I just don't see Drs anymore. I have an OB/GYN that I've had for several years and will only see her. Everything else I just deal with. I see my Pdoc and T as well.

Yes, and it makes it extra difficult to trust them enough to go in for regular exams and check ups to this very day ...

[elliemay]

Oh it's mixed and also depends a lot on the specialty IMO. There are good ones, horrible ones, and good ones that are just having a bad day.

Of the lot, surgeons i've found to be the most outrageous in their behaviour - aggressive, arrogant and rushed. Not the kind of person I would want poking around inside me, BUT fortunately they usually hand off cases to the internal medicine docs pretty quickly.

In general, nurses, of all kinds I have huge problems with. HUGE problems with. I find that if I can actually get to a physician, then at least something can get resolved.

In all of my years of both working in and be a consumer of the healthcare system I have met a total of 2 nurses that have been "okay".

Personally, I have never, ever in my entire life run across a more stalwart, belligerent group of folks in my entire life and the physicians can't do anything about. No one can. It's amazing.

Physicians? Mostly okay in my book.

[For real]

I understand everybody's posts here as I've had similar, but maybe not as bad. My main unacceptable behavior has been from people in the mental health profession.
It's brink's oncriminal what some professionals do in their treatment of their patients.
Sending hugs to you all. Well done on speaking out

[Serotonin]

Originally Posted by sconnie892

I can't say I've had that experience with an M.D. when seeking treatment for myself. I feel very lucky to have found my primary care physician. She and the nurses in her office are awesome.

That hasn't been the case at other clinics. I dealt with a really nasty nurse at a walk-in clinic. She was just rude and had a horrible attitude. When I told her I often get light-headed from shots, she didn't even offer to let me sit a few minutes to make sure I was okay. Just sent my on my way. I had to sit for about 30 minutes in my car till the dizziness went away. I never went back to that clinic again.

I was recently admitted to Hopital with stomach pain, I could have sworn that it was another gallstone, but it turned out to be chronic constipation. Sounds funny, but the pain wasn't. The very first nurse I came into contact with was busy aggressively talking down to some old man she was pushing in a wheelchair, and in a very loud voice. I don't think he was hard of hearing, and what she seemed to be doing was just dominating him. When I spoke to her she began imitating my accent ie. effectively mocking me. I couldn't believe it. I speak well, and perhaps she thought I was posh, which I'm not, and thought it would be fun to imitate.

One other time a nurse took a blood sample from my arm, and I could have sworn that she was intentionally wiggling the needle about so as to cause unnecessary pain, said she was having difficulty finding a vein. When she was finished, the bruise that came up on my arm was like someone had taken a sledge hammer and pounded my arm with it very hard. Unbelievable.

Originally Posted by sconnie892

I've also dealt with some not so great doctors when helping my parents with medical issues. One doctor was so horrible when my dad was in the hospital we tried to get my dad transferred to another hospital. When I went to an appointment with my mom, the doctor basically ignored my mom and talked like she wasn't in the room.

The way I see it, I am paying a clinic/doctor for their services. It's no different than t, or any other business transaction. If I am not satisfied with the service, I find someone else.

I only go to see a doctor now in an emergency, which is very seldom, and when there is absolutely no other option. Thanks to the internet, I've been using DIY therapies and treating my own ailments now for a very long time, as I am loathe to be treated as a lesser human being by anyone, and I don't care how many letters they have after their name. It does not justify their pompous, superior attitude towards their patients and their relatives.

[Serotonin]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

I haven't personally run into this in my own care, but boy have we run into some doozies in my husband's medical care. He has reflex sympathetic dystrophy and has needed many surgeries over the last 27 years. We have observed that surgeons have the biggest egos and horrendous God complexes.

You hit the nail on the head. Virtually without exception, most of them are egomaniacs, not with God complexes, but who truly believe that they are the Messiah. I've (reluctantly) come into contact with a lot of doctors over the years, and I haven't liked any of them, as it has been just so impossible to find anything remotely likeable about them. To become a doctor they have to study medicine for 7 years in the UK, and when they graduate and put on the white coat the power rush goes to their heads, and they treat patients not as people, but as pieces of broken down machinery. Their attitude stinks.

Originally Posted by farmergirl

The worst was the doctor who did surgery to implant a spinal cord stimulator. My husband developed a severe post-operative infection and this idiot, because he refused to admit something he had done could have gone wrong, blamed my husband for the infection, refused to treat the infection, and told me to find another surgeon to remove the spinal cord stimulator because that was the only option. I finally found a local surgeon who would talk to me and he said I needed to get my husband to an infectious disease specialist immediately. He gave me the name of a local one who said my husband would be dead in 24 hours if not started on immediate I.V. surgical strength antibiotics. It took two months of infusions of two different antibiotics round the clock to cure the infection. Needless to say, we never returned to that surgeon.

They will never admit to making a mistake, as that would make them culpable. Much more convenient (and grossly unfair) to blame it on the patient and sustain the illusion of medical excellence, which everyone knows is a myth.

[Chopin99]

Yes. When I was 20 years old, I had what turned out to be a serious infection in both tonsils. This caused all the lymph nodes in my neck to swell tremendously. My GP at the time, who was always a bit confrontational and attitudinal told me I probably had Hodgkin's lymphoma and sent me to the hospital to have blood drawn. I spent days in terror thinking I had cancer. These tests came back negative and I decided to make an appointment with my wonderful ENT who had a few choice words for my GP and a recommendation for me to find a new GP, which I did.

I want to mention how great this ENT is. I haven't had to see him in 10 years, but he was wonderful to me and my family. He is a devout Christian man. I suffered my entire childhood with horrible allergies and sinus problems. When I was 18, he recommended I have a septoplasty and sinus surgery. My parents' insurance company refused to pay for it. He battled the insurance company for a year, sending them x-rays which proved my sinuses were horribly swollen and that I could not breathe through the right side of my nose. They still refused to pay. I had the surgery a month before my 19th birthday. I was so afraid of being anesthetized before the surgery. He told me I had to calm down (my BP was through the roof) before he could safely administer any IV drugs to sedate me. I told him that if he sedated me I could guarantee I'd calm down. The look on his face told me he was serious, so I tried to calm down. He finally administered a sedative and took me to the OR. As I was anesthetized, he prayed over me, which meant a lot to me. Anyway, long story short, he negotiated with the hospital and the anesthesiologists to lower their fees and he did not charge for his services (the operation took two hours). He told my parents not to tell anyone. What a great man!

[Serotonin]

Originally Posted by JustWannaDisappear

Same GP as above. I needed to get my birth control refilled. I was complaining of pain and after my exam he said to get dressed and he would come in to talk to me. He came in and told me I had gonorrhea. I freaked out. He told me it was a bacteria in my body that flared during stress. Apparently he missed a few classes in High school. He offered to give me the shots or I could take the meds orally. I opted for the pills. I knew I didn't have an STD. It caused a HUGE fight with my husband and me. He asked how the Dr would say I have an STD and I say I don't. Well, the Dr never did any tests for it. After a couple of months I finally was able to go see an OB/GYN and he had never put it in my chart. Turns out I had endometriosis and needed surgery. It caused horrible issues with my husband and I and we were newlyweds.

I just don't see Drs anymore. I have an OB/GYN that I've had for several years and will only see her. Everything else I just deal with. I see my Pdoc and T as well.

That's pretty serious. They frequently make misdiagnoses, as did the psychiatrist (who never even seen me) in my case. I merely received a 10 minute interview by one of his assistants (a psychology student), and the psychiatrist who I never even got to speak to misdiagnosed "Alcohol Dependence Syndrome". But in your case not only was there a misdiagnosis, the misdignosis was putting your marriage at risk, which is outrageous.

And I'll bet you never received an apology.

Originally Posted by elliemay

Of the lot, surgeons i've found to be the most outrageous in their behaviour - aggressive, arrogant and rushed. Not the kind of person I would want poking around inside me, BUT fortunately they usually hand off cases to the internal medicine docs pretty quickly.

In general, nurses, of all kinds I have huge problems with. HUGE problems with. I find that if I can actually get to a physician, then at least something can get resolved.

In all of my years of both working in and be a consumer of the healthcare system I have met a total of 2 nurses that have been "okay".

Personally, I have never, ever in my entire life run across a more stalwart, belligerent group of folks in my entire life and the physicians can't do anything about. No one can. It's amazing.

Physicians? Mostly okay in my book.

I remember attempting to talk on the phone to the surgeon who carried out my mom's hernia operation. I simply asked a few simple questions, like what procedure was carried out, and what was the technical term for the operation, and he seemed very reluctant to discuss anything, then became a bit impatient and aggressive. I thought "this guy is either having a bad day, or he's an arrogant, aggressive asshole". I'm still not certain, but am firmly leaning on the latter.

Nurses can be just as evil as many doctors. I think there has always been a power struggle going on between nurses and doctors, and many nurses have become just as authoritarian, if not more so, than doctors. It's a power thing, and a lot of the time innocent patients become the targets of all of their repressed anger, frustration, and aggression.

I'm not kidding, I'm a very sensitive person, and pick up on things very quickly, and I've detected what seems like nothing less than sadism among many members of the medical profession, both doctors and nurses. It's terrifying to think that these people are responsible for administering health care, and ultimately have the power over life and death.

[Towanda]

I am a nurse, and I am SO SORRY to hear that so many of you have had bad experiences with nurses. That is unprofessional and absolutely inexcusable. I always try to go out of my way to be kind and caring to not only my patient, but to whoever came in with them. Being sick and in a strange situation is scary enough without being treated meanly or in a condescending manner. It doesn't take a lot of effort or time to be gentle or go the extra mile to make sure your patient is feeling safe, well informed and comfortable as possible.

A suggestion - if you're ever in that situation again, please report that nurse to her manager. I've worked both on the floor and as a Nurse Manager; as a manger or supervisor I would certainly want to know if someone was mistreating my patients; that nurse would not be working for me for very long. The nurse managers I know take this kind of complaint very seriously.

Again, sorry for your experience. Not all nurses are like this - you just happened to come up against some of the not so nice ones that don't belong in this wonderful profession.

[Serotonin]

Yay! One good nurse in the house.

Tuck me into bed some time, will ya?

[growlycat]

Most nurses and NP's have been great in my experience. It's the MD's that leave a lot to be desired (with a few stellar exceptions in my case.)

I had a Dr. back in MA who was also the editor of a well known medical Journal. My T recommended her and she was one of the worst and nastiest Dr.'s I've ever had. She knew I was in therapy, so it's not a leap to assume I have issues. Yet when I sought ways to control my weight in a healthy way, and described being hungry all the time when I know it can't be real, she would condescendingly say I had enough padding to make it through a strict calorie reduction (hello!! ED, you stupid MD)

And then there was the time I put vanilla scented lotion on my body a few hours before my apt (She made me very uncomfortable about my body--anything to make myself feel less gross.) When examining me, she was alarmed and said I had a yeast infection all over my skin! (I was too embarrassed to correct her. And no, it was NOT a yeast infection)

I hate seeing Dr.'s.

[KazzaX]

All the Gps over here are horrendous. They don't really care about you, as long as you go and fill out the script (ie they get money). Its all well and good to be outraged by it, but in the end (I have found) that you need to just accept it because there is nothing you can do to change it. And example of this is every time I go to a GP in this area, i always have to wait until everyone else that comes in has seen the doctor first (even people who come in after me). This is because I am a different nationality to the people in this suburb. That is the only difference between me and everyone else that lives here (I was born in this country but everyone in this suburb are immigrants from another particular country). That is the only difference between us therefore it must be the answer.

It doesn't help me to raise hell about it. I am not racist so I don't let it affect me personally. If everyone else here is racist then there is also nothing I can do about it. It is the norm. They go in first, I go in last. Even if people come in to see the GP an hour AFTER I have, they get to go in first. So I just accept it. I should consider myself lucky that I even have access to a GP, right? 2 hours minimum in the waiting room at the GPs around here... minimum. Soooo annoying. Then you go in there and the GP doesnt give a crap about anything you have to say.

We have to just accept it and accommodate it because we have no other choice. If I was able to afford any other suburb to live in, I would be out of here like a fart in a blizzard!

[growlycat]

Originally Posted by KazzaX

All the Gps over here are horrendous. They don't really care about you, as long as you go and fill out the script (ie they get money). Its all well and good to be outraged by it, but in the end (I have found) that you need to just accept it because there is nothing you can do to change it. And example of this is every time I go to a GP in this area, i always have to wait until everyone else that comes in has seen the doctor first (even people who come in after me). This is because I am a different nationality to the people in this suburb. That is the only difference between me and everyone else that lives here (I was born in this country but everyone in this suburb are immigrants from another particular country). That is the only difference between us therefore it must be the answer.

It doesn't help me to raise hell about it. I am not racist so I don't let it affect me personally. If everyone else here is racist then there is also nothing I can do about it. It is the norm. They go in first, I go in last. Even if people come in to see the GP an hour AFTER I have, they get to go in first. So I just accept it. I should consider myself lucky that I even have access to a GP, right? 2 hours minimum in the waiting room at the GPs around here... minimum. Soooo annoying. Then you go in there and the GP doesnt give a crap about anything you have to say.

We have to just accept it and accommodate it because we have no other choice. If I was able to afford any other suburb to live in, I would be out of here like a fart in a blizzard!

Ok that is one of the worst dr stories yet. Have you tried quietly letting the receptionist know that you were there before others they let in? Sounds horrible, but ask with a smile as if you don't know what is really going on? Sometimes if people are called out on their racism, some people actually develop a sense of shame for once, and change their behavior. It may not work but it is worth a shot.

[Serotonin]

@KazzaX: If you are in the UK, then I can empathise with you. I'm not racist either, but the immigrants in this country are given priority over the indigenous people in housing allocation, education, and healthcare. It's the Tory-LibDem coalition government's way of saying to the European Union "Look we're not racist, we treat our foreign immigrants well and give them priority". It's political correctness gone mad, and the indigenous inhabitants of this country are being treated like second class citizens as a result.

And of course if you object or even raise questions about it, you are automatically tagged as an intolerant racist with a distaste for foreigners. It's a ridiculous situation, but more and more people are waking up to it, and are beginning to lose their fear of voicing their protest.

[greengrasshopper]

I had a horrible experience. As a small child i went to the hospital and was told i was attention seeking that i just wanted crutches to play on and was told "I know what children like YOU are like". A week later my parents got a phone call saying her legs broken she needs surgery. There's a life long fear of the medical profession curtesy of you, thanks Doc you incompetant hack.

Yup, GP and hospital staff. Was actually pushed against a wall when I was hospitalised, and GP turned the pc screen round to me once and begun pointing and counting all my suicide attempts and rolling his eyes.

[Serotonin]

I remember the time I had to ring for an ambulance as I was experiencing terrible gallstone pain, and the ambulance driver gave me an aggressive interrogation on the way to the Hospital, I felt as if I had done something wrong, or committed a crime.

I was in so much pain I was on the floor of the hospital cubicle writhing around in agony, and occasionally a nurse or someone would pop their head in, then swiftly move on. It was like they didn't care and were just checking to see if I was dead yet.

After about 2 hours eventually a doctor came round, and he had one of his student assistants with him. I was very poorly and was subjected to yet another interrogation characterised by what can only be described as aggressive condescension. I thought "are you ****ing serious? Is this the right way to treat someone who is obviously very physically ill and in a lot of pain?

It was like kicking a man when he was down, and I really resent that doctor's patronizing attitude, but again, if you dare make a complaint, they deny all knowledge, refusing to make themselves accountable.

Srsly, **** doctors. I've had a stomach full of them, ... you can only take so much.

[pachyderm]

I can't think of experiences I have had with regular MDs that was particularly bad. My GP now is good. My bad experiences have been with psychiatrists (not all of them) and allied workers (not all of them, either).

I think it's more remarkable to me when I'm not treated badly by a doctor.

Here in the UK, it seems that suicide attempts are permanently 'pinned' to the top of GP records, so this is the first thing a GP sees when you go for a physical health consultation. Most find this very distracting, and find ways to reinterpret my physical symptoms in light of my 'mental illness'. The worst was probably when I had glandular fever which was continually dismissed as depression. It got so bad that I developed hepatitis from the virus and was eventually hospitalised for two weeks (by a GP where I was on holiday, who had no access to my health records to cloud his thinking).

I've also been appallingly treated by those who should have known better, though. Most notably by a nurse in a private hospital I was a regular patient at, who refused to call my psychiatrist or my therapist and instead turned me away saying that 'this isn't A&E'. I was terribly unwell and distressed and had been drinking. I ended up on an underground line. Fortunately, a member of the public called an ambulance, but it pains me that I received better care from a random stranger than a nurse who had a duty of care towards me. When I was taken to A&E, they were incredibly kind to me considering that it was Saturday night, I'd been drinking, and my problems were 'self inflicted'. You just never know...

PS Shortly afterwards, the nurse 'left' the hospital. My psychiatrist showed me an email from the hospital manager stating that they had already been advising the nurse to 'consider his options', even before the incident. I reported the nurse to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. They dismissed the complaint on the grounds that (a) the hospital said they had never been concerned about him (an outright lie, as I have seen the email), (b) the nurse himself reported that his new employers had no concerns about him (seriously?! relying on his word for it?!) and (c) the patient 'admitted that she had been drinking'... The fact of my drinking was not used in any way. They did not, for example, argue that I had been obstructive and this justified him ejecting me from the hospital. It was simply put there to taint my character and thus my complaint. It was used to paint me as one of the 'mentally ill' whose word is not valued and whose life is not valued, because losing my life was one very real possible consequence directly resulting from his actions. I felt sick to my stomach when I read the decision and have done nothing to challenge it. I give up.

[WantingtoHeal]

I'm an RN and I've seen awful awful awful doctors - both as a patient and as a nurse. It just kills me.

I hate them. Just hate them. Truly truly hate them.

yes, surgeons do tend to be a peculiar breed - very perfectionistic and RUDE IMO

To be fair, though, I do havea very kind doctor that I see on a very rare occasion to manage my cholesterol level.

[Serotonin]

I've been reading and thinking about the bad doctor phenomenon, and I have come to the conclusion that many members of the medical profession enter medicine not as a means of treating and improving people's health, but as a means of exercising absolute power and control over people, and with the added bonus of being able to treat their patients as if they wee subhuman entities, and mostly get away with it.

I have no statistics to substantiate my suspicion, but I am certain that there is a considerably high rate of sociopathy among medical doctors, as well as surgeons and lawyers. The supreme irony of this is that people who take the "Hippocratic oath" are in fact hypocrites, who instead of improving their patients mental, emotional, and physical condition, may actually exacerbate their patient's conditions and make them worse.

Manners and politeness cost nothing. Treating another human being as a human being is not an arduous task, in fact I personally find it very difficult not to treat other people in a courteous manner, and even if I don't like them. Yet for many doctors, treating their patients with some dignity and respect seems to be a virtual impossibility. It's almost as if they were rude by default. And what can you do other than make a complaint, which is usually ignored, denied, and/or dismissed.

There is something fundamentally wrong and deeply flawed among members of the medical profession, and I think that egomania may play a significant role. Someone once said to me that "surgeons don't become surgeons because they want to cure people, they become surgeons because they enjoy cutting people up". Of course I laughed, but the more I think about it, the more it becomes apparent that this might actually be true.

We have psychopaths and sadists for doctors and surgeons, and these people who are responsible for our well-being are the very same people who pose the biggest threat to our well-being, and who we need to protect ourselves against.

And that's a very scary thought.