How To Spot A Bad Doctor
What do you call a doctor who barely passed his medical exam?
You call him doctor.
I am sure that some of the best doctors barely passed their medical exams but still passed. So, it’s difficult to judge a doctor based on the certificates tacked to their office walls. But how do you know if your doctor is good or lousy?
How do you spot a bad doctor?
Their office staff is unprofessional
I often think that a doctor is only as good as the office staff, and if they aren't friendly, courteous, and helpful, they aren't very good at all. And this rubs off poorly on the doctors they are working for.
You can’t get an appointment with them
You’re feeling your early warning symptoms of asthma. Your COPD action plan recommends you call your doctor during times like this. This is the best way to stave off a full-blown flare-up. Taking swift action, such as seeing your doctor right away, can prevent an expensive emergency room visit. But, what good is it to you if you can’t be seen by the same doctor who is supposed to be helping you? It does not look good at all.
Your doctor keeps postponing your appointments
Sure, doctors are busy. Sometimes they are called to the hospital for emergencies. So, they may have to cancel your appointment. And sometimes, they legitimately have to call in sick. Or perhaps their kids are sick or have issues. So, there are times a doctor may have to postpone appointments. But, some doctors are just never available.
You can’t get in touch with them
You need a new prescription, and you call the office to no avail. You are having symptoms and need advice. And you call the office and get no response. Or, you send an email and get no response.
They don’t seem to listen to you
You explain your situation. You go into detail about what is concerning you, and your doctor goes off on a tangent that has nothing to do with what you said. This is very important to me because I find it hard enough to talk about my medical issues.
You leave appointments not knowing what’s wrong with you
Not all doctors are good at explaining things to you, and some may even have poor bedside manners or be poor at communication. Still, even a doctor with poor bedside manners will at least attempt to explain what is going on with you and what he thinks you should do. A good doctor will not allow you to leave appointments with unanswered questions.
They make you feel uncomfortable
I had a doctor who seemed to be arrogant and condescending. And this personality type may fit well with some people. But it made me feel like I was inferior. He made me feel like I was an idiot who didn’t know anything about my disease. So, I fired him and hired a doctor who became a good friend of mine. That doesn’t mean your doctor has to have the same personality as you. Still, a good doctor will make an effort to create a friendly office environment. So, if your doctor makes you feel uncomfortable, that’s a sign you may have a bad doctor.
Your doctor doesn’t touch you
I do not like to be touched. But, I have a lung disease. And I would hope a doctor will at least take the time to put a stethoscope on my back. And since I have sinus issues, I would expect a good doctor to check out my neck, nose, and sinuses. Of course, a doctor’s assessment may go further than that. But, at the very least, some assessment should be made at even the most basic of appointments.
Your doctor is always in a rush
Your doctor seems to always be in a rush. And I understand that doctors can get very busy. Still, your appointment is your appointment. You are paying for a comfortable chunk of your doctor's time. And if you're doctor is rushing things along and not giving you the care you deserve as a result, that signifies you have a bad doctor.
As a member of this community, I am sure you've seen lots of doctors. Have you ever had a bad doctor? What do you think qualifies this person as a bad doctor? Please let us know in the comments below.
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