Doctors with a `'God' complex

(Oct 2014) I wrote the blog post about the doctor with a god complex in May of 2012.  Since that time I've met many physicians who more than favorably balance the equation.  That is, they are humble, conscientious and place a premium on listening.  I'll refer you to a recent New York Times interview with one of them:   Dr. Laurie Glimcher

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ME: 

(May 2012) New to this area I sought out a doc just to have one on hand in the event I needed one. This guy came well recommended by some acquaintances. I met with his Nurse Practitioner a few weeks ago Monday. She takes my history (did a decent good job) and set me up to see the doc himself that Friday.

You know the drill. They get you undressed and cloaked in a butt exposed `gown.' This of course, has nothing to do with setting the scene so that the doc is top dog and the patient is a vulnerable sot. -;

The guy comes in, doesn't even look at me. Sits at a little table and opens his laptop. Starts barking numbers and concludes: "We're gonna put you on a diet. Your BMI is too high." 

I tell him:

• I lost 20 lbs in the last six months;
• ride 200 miles and climb 18,000 feet on a bike every week;
• that muscle is heavier than fat;
• I no longer eat meat; 
• refer him to the BodPod results I submitted when I met with the NP; 
• and inform him that the BMI is a 19th century metric for people half our size when the average male lifespan was 48 years.

He ignores that and keeps looking at his laptop. Then he says that the prostate exam and full urological workup I had just last May (biopsy that showed NO evidence of enlargement or cancer) was worthless and that nothing is as good as ... and then he just sticks his index finger in the air and waves it.

I didn't respond because this was so stump stupid on his part that I was (believe it) speechless.

I tilted my head, smiled, got my Irish up and said "... and then what? A biopsy and blood work that I just had 6 months ago?!"

He then slammed down his laptop and said: "I'm not accepting you as a patient. I'm not going to argue with you."

I was, again, taken aback and surprised at the crude arrogance. Then he tells me to get dressed and a nurse will tell me what to do next.

I left a few minutes later and pondered deeply as to what this meant. Finally, I found another doc. A few days later I sent this idiot the following letter:

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Dr. X:

I understand your prerogative to decline accepting patients.

I am in agreement with you that it is better that you recognized what would certainly have been apparent at a later time. Being most generous in my description there is an incompatibility between us.

Candidly, I was surprised and am mildly distressed at your behavior.

Having been the Clinical Director of a psychiatric hospital for abused and neglected children and adolescents I have many, many times been reminded of the importance of listening to my patients and staff.

It is my conclusion that you emphatically failed your profession in this regard.

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So, my advice to all of us: don't be intimidated by physicians who are so arrogant that they suffer from a God complex.

From a psychological perspective such people lack confidence in their ability to maintain a interactive and candid relationship with the client / patient.

More, several recent `gold standard' research reports conclude that arrogant and self-absorbed physicians have a much higher `fail' rate and more malpractice allegations than others.

Word to the wise.