The white coat ceremony

Dr. Centor,
I think you got them off to a good start.
James Gaulte

In theory listening to the patient is a beautiful thought. However as a patient and as a woman it is highly unrealistic to expect a doctor to actually listen.

I often sit with my coworkers-woman scientists-and we discuss our dissapointment with physicians in general. We walk in the door and the assumption is made that we are too stupid to have any insight or knowledge about our problem. Only the god like MD can truley possess the sacred knowledge. Even better, we are whiny middle age women.

I wonder if this is a generational phenomena as often the older physician seems somewhat more good hearted. I wonder if by selecting only the ambitious, top notch, 4.0 students who are willing to cheat, steal, and backstab to get into to medical school, if we are preselecting really poor doctors. Being a physician in america has become a place of status and thus those who want status strive for that position. They have substantial egos, poor listening skills and little to no empathy. There minds are highly focused in a very linear, regurgitative fashion. They can vomit back all the info you throw at them but can they really stop and make the connections between all that information? Can they really think, can they really feel, can they really listen? Most important can they admit they are wrong or that they don’t know the answer?

I don’t think so. Big egos don’t allow that sort of behavior.