Doctors Remixed

I'd hate to put across the impression that I hate doctors regardless of who they are, what they do, or how they present themselves. I don't. I like doctors, I'd like to be a doctor, I admire what they do and how hard they have to work and had to work to get there, I admire their intelligence, and their strength in facing death. I admire their ability to deal with people day in, day out. Sick people, unhappy people, bitter people, pushy people, dying people, paranoid people... etc. I realise that when a doctor is seeing hundreds of patients in a week it is inevitable that there is one patient he upsets or disappoints. I sympathise too, because most patients do not realise that they are not the centre of their doctor's world, that their doctor will not remember the exact problem they were having when they last saw him in 2005.

I've got some very good friends who are doctors, and I adore them. Mylem, who died in January, was a nephologist with a double specialty in feet and cosmetic surgery. Bizarre. But absolutely lovely. Perfect, in fact. If it weren't for him and his GP expertise I'd probably still believe that my joints hurt because I'm thin... And that my father is right and sexuality is a choice.

As I see it, there are three reasons that people choose to become doctors. Fascination with the human body, medicine and life; a desire to help people, save lives and be useful; and pure, unadulterated arrogance.
There is a fourth - parental pressure - but I feel that is irrelevant at present.

Those doctors whose primary interest is the physiology of it all, are likely to become very good doctors (assuming they have the intelligence) with wide experience and the ability to spot 'zebras'. They might not, however, have the most amiable bedside manner and thus may cause upset to patients who feel they are not listening, not paying attention, not caring enough. But, they'll get the job done, done well, and done right.
Those doctors whose primary interest is caring for people (assuming they have the intelligence)
are likely to be a hit with their patients, by view of their cheerful, caring manner, their interest in the people, and comfort. However, they might be more cautious in their diagnoses, more likely to spot a 'horse' than a 'zebra', and whilst they'll be wonderful for typical cases, could cause immense aggravation in the more peculiar cases.
Both of these 'sorts' will get on just fine for the majority of their patients, but there will always be a few people who don't get on with them, don't feel listened to, don't feel satisfied. But that's ok, it doesn't matter at all. The doctor cannot be blamed for that, because it's just the same situation as meeting a lady at the bus stop and finding that she infuriates you. One doesn't get along with everyone, and doctors are no different.

The third sort, however, are where the problems arise. There is a chap in my chemistry class at school who is going to be a doctor. He's arrogant, he's unkind, he is a megalomaniac. He is better than the rest of the class, because he is going to study medicine. He's already got a "that's Doctor Bloggs, actually" air about him, and he's still in sixth form. If anyone outside of him and his equally stuck-up friends is asked a question, they are laughed at. Regardless of whether their response is correct or not. He's going to get the best marks in the class. "I got 33!" he shouts. Awe on the teacher's face... "Did anyone get higher?" "Yes, Julian got 35!" says my loud, rather annoying friend. What I have is modesty, whilst what this chap has is arrogance. I digress (frequently). The point is, that this chap is a horrible, horrible person. He doesn't have any special interest in health and disease. He certainly doesn't care about people excessively. He scarcely cares for anyone. What he wants is to be a doctor and as a result, to be better than others, because that is what being a doctor is about, clearly.
It is these doctors, the ones born of arrogance and ill-spent intelligence that truly disappoint. They are, I believe, in the minority, but it is and will always be these doctors who are ranted about on the internet, moaned about in cafes, and complained about to PCTs. They give doctors a bad name. They give doctors the bad name that I gave them in my previous post. The post was a jibe at bad doctors, inconsiderate doctors, stupid doctors and arrogant doctors. All other doctors were not considered. As always, there are generalisations for doctors, as there are for blacks, homosexuals, and goths.

And so, for the record, my GP is lovely. He's awkward and socially... awkward, but he is always sweet to me, always listens, and has always taken me seriously. My rheumatologist is polite, quiet and again, awkward. A friend had an unfortunate experience with him, but I try not to judge him on that because I know she can be difficult and inarticulate, and it's nothing to do with me! He's been good to me, even though I know I infuriate him through being sullen and shy. Mylem, Trent and Braham are all fabulous people, wonderful friends, and I'd love them to be my doctors, but I know that each of them have had problems with patients who were not satisfied with their treatment, thought they weren't being listened to, or felt shunned. Because, and I'll say it again, all doctors have some patients with whom they do not see eye-to-eye.
phew.