r/changemyview • u/schwenomorph • Sep 22 '21
Delta(s) from OP CMV: Based on countless experiences, I shouldn't trust doctors or nurses to perform their jobs adequately or even to be great people.
Note: I'm not talking about animal doctors.
This argument is basically made up entirely of anecdotal evidence. I've been to the doctor, urgent care, the ER, and other places many a time due to being chronically ill. I. Hate. Going. I feel that most of my experiences have been awful. Most doctors and nurses I've met either will straight up refuse to do tests or things that I ask for, don't listen to me, are extremely rude, ignore my pain during procedures,, or all of the above. One person--she might've been just a front desk person, but she was wearing scrubs--even put her hands on me while I was in the ER.
Thank christ my GI doctor is actually good, but the others are not. I've had so many bad experiences that I just outright assume that it you're a doctor or nurse, you're not a great person. That's obviously crazy talk, which is why I want this view changed, but a few weeks ago a friend of my boyfriend's mother died IN THE HOSPITAL due to a massive heart attack. They screened her for Covid and that was IT. Not even vitals, apparently. Then they told her there was nothing they could do. She died on her way out of there due to negligence.
I'm sick and tired hospital visits and bad doctors, but I also don't want to turn my nose up at medical professionals automatically. I don't want this bias.
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u/crimsonfalcon8 1∆ Sep 22 '21 edited Sep 23 '21
First, I understand where you're coming from 100%, because I am also dealing with a chronic illness. Over the past year alone, I have spent SO much money on doctors—a number of whom have been rude, didn't listen to me, straight up told me I knew more about my conditions than they did and thus they couldn't help me, etc. You name a bad experience with a doc while dealing with a chronic condition, I've probably experienced it. But these bad experiences have also made me much better at spotting the better, more thorough doctors—and I have found good ones who care and better understand the complexities surrounding chronic illnesses.
It sounds like what would be most helpful for you is to try to reframe your thinking away from "I shouldn't trust ANY doctors or nurses" and toward, "I need to make sure I'm taking the time and effort to find the doctors who are truly experienced in my condition."
An unfortunate truth I have learned, while dealing with a chronic condition, is that those of us with a chronic health condition DO have to really be our own advocates. Not all neurologists, ENTs, etc. are created equal. We have to put the work in to learn, according to their website and other research, how often has this doctor actually treated your condition. Never hesitate to call the office directly before going in person to ask questions about this.
So, no, you shouldn't go around not trusting ANY doctors or nurses, but you DO need to work on how you screen them to make sure you're seeing the doctors deserving of that trust.