Not mentioned in this brief report is that doctors often resent being questioned by their "ignorant" patients. One man who tries to keep up on new medical developments encountered the negative reaction of his doctor when he repeated what he had read about treatment e.g., over use of antibiotics. "Who is he to question my wisdom." is what doctors think. Few of them are willing to take the time to explain what they know to reassure their patient. When a patient discussed this with two medical students they were still open about this problem, revealing that they had discussed that in class that day. Yet another young physician at a prestigious hospital got upset when asked why doctors do not listen to their patients. She said,"Patients don't listen to their doctors." That suggests a communication problem. Is that for the patient to resolve? Medical reporting encourages patients to get involved with their treatment, to ask questions of their doctors. But when they do, they get negative reactions. Is this an ego problem among professionals?
[From article]
only one in seven said they would disagree with their doctor over treatment, some saying it would not be socially acceptable or would damage their relationship with the doctor.
[...]
are very nervous about this idea of pushing back against doctor recommendations for fear of being labeled 'a bad patient,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/us-patients-idUSBRE86B07220120712
Patients avoid disagreeing with doctor, may ignore advice
Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:03am EDT
Reuters
Reporting from New York by Genevra Pittman at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies
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