Arrogant Doctors
He called me quite upset as he was leaving the appointment the day it finally came around. The session consisted of an hour or so of discussion with a resident. He actually really liked her and felt like it was productive, but in the last ten minutes the attending psychiatrist came in, asked him two or three questions, then told him summarily that he had control issues and needed to exercise more. She changed the prescription the resident had given him and told him to come back in a month.
My friend was so upset and I just furious for him. I could not believe the temerity and arrogance of the attending doctor. My friend didn’t even want to go back and was ready to call the whole thing a bust. I spent the next month coaching him and encouraging him and I am happy to report that he did go back and this time the appointment went very well. However, one dismissive doctor almost prevented him from getting much needed help.
Trisha Torrey, the About.com Guide to Patient Empowerment, has an article on this very topic. She writes, “Many of us have encountered an arrogant or egotistical doctor. He or she comes across as mightier-than-thou, seems brusque, superior or conceited, as if we are supposed to feel lucky simply to be in this person's presence, or fearful enough that we had better not cross him.
“When we aren't feeling well, which of course is the reason we are visiting this individual to begin with, then facing such a big personality may leave us feeling intimidated, angry, frustrated, or a host of other negative emotions, none of which is helpful for improving our health.” She continues the article with very useful tips regarding How to Deal with an Arrogant Doctor. ~ Kimberly
Comments
That doctor may have a Superiority Complex or Megalomania. Many of them do.
i had a similar event occur when i was looking for a psychiatrist. After being institutionalized, i was diagnosed schizo-affective. When i looked for a psychiatrist after moving to FL, the first i went to told me immediately she didn’t like to prescribe medication. When i told her my diagnosis, she said, “That’s a very unusual diagnosis. Who told you that?” i ended up walking out of her office.
My mom had the same problem with a Psyciatrist and now she will go back. She suffers from depression and she went to this psychiatrist and he wasn’t too happy that her private dr. order her medication for depression. He didn’t think she was depressed…….it was just situational he said because she couldn’t find a job. He just said to keep on taking what was prescribed to her and dismissed her like she was nothing.
Your Mum’s Doctor was probably right about her depression being situational, but that doesn’t mean that some of the worst symptoms of anxiety that she is most likely experiencing, can’t be helped with medication, and it would be inhumane to withhold such help in the short term. Remember that Doctors are just workers, and whilst there are many good ones around, there are a great deal more – well perhaps I should stop there. Hope your Mum’s feeling better.
Yeah, my psychiatrist is pretty arrogant too. The army sent me to him for check ups. I have learned lol to just make him feel the boss, and jsut lie my arse off during the sessions.
He actually shouted at me once, which was quite disturbing, and I had to diffuse his anger real quick by agreeing with everything he said.
ed. 21 years old