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> The worst have been preachy, god-complex douchebags. Is this sideways dig really necessary? I could say the same about programmers (and I am one). I count

> The worst have been preachy, god-complex douchebags. Is this sideways dig really necessary? I could say the same about programmers (and I am one). I count half a dozen doctors and nurses among my inlaws. None of them will give their personal phone numbers out to patients. If a patient asks, they're politely told to call the office, who will then curate the calls. If you've ever been around a doctor, especially a GP, you know how many calls they get. My father-in-law takes dozens of calls a day from his office, several of which come at night when he's asleep. If he were expected to take calls directly from patients, he'd be completely unable to do his job. So, serious question for you jachee: is it possible that the doctor you're responding to has some insight into the challenges of his job that you don't?

jachee 8y ago
It's indeed possible that there's insight there, but with phrasing like "bottomless well of need" there's also an obvious disdain for humanity which seems likely due to having never been seriously ill, scared or suffering. Having several close acquaintances, including my wife, who deal with chronic illness it set off red flags of "only in it for the money" insight or not.
- loco5niner 8y ago
  > with phrasing like "bottomless well of need" there's also an obvious disdain for humanity I think you are wrong to make that assumption. There are tons of people with no sense of boundaries who will make contact over and over for very little reason. It only takes one or two of those people to ruin it for the rest of us.
- nate_meurer 8y ago
  I've heard the phrase "bottomless well of need" -- exactly that phrase --from more than one of my family members in the medical profession, all of whom are caring to the point of self-sacrifice. It's a vivid, pointed, and completely accurate description of a significant minority of patients who present a real challenge to doctors and nurses. My brother-in-law is an ER doc. He treats an alarmingly high number of patients who threaten to sue him if he's not willing to give them his phone number, write an immediate referral, or prescribe opioids. These are patients with real pain, real problems, who are understandably desperate for relief, and who are easily capable of completely dominating a doctor's time and attention. The implication of an obvious disdain for humanity here is pretty uncharitable. Just as it's difficult to relate to chronic disease from the outside, I think it's difficult to relate to the challenges of treating and caring for the afflicted.

jachee 8y ago

It's indeed possible that there's insight there, but with phrasing like "bottomless well of need" there's also an obvious disdain for humanity which seems likely due to having never been seriously ill, scared or suffering. Having several close acquaintances, including my wife, who deal with chronic illness it set off red flags of "only in it for the money" insight or not.

loco5niner 8y ago
> with phrasing like "bottomless well of need" there's also an obvious disdain for humanity I think you are wrong to make that assumption. There are tons of people with no sense of boundaries who will make contact over and over for very little reason. It only takes one or two of those people to ruin it for the rest of us.
nate_meurer 8y ago
I've heard the phrase "bottomless well of need" -- exactly that phrase --from more than one of my family members in the medical profession, all of whom are caring to the point of self-sacrifice. It's a vivid, pointed, and completely accurate description of a significant minority of patients who present a real challenge to doctors and nurses. My brother-in-law is an ER doc. He treats an alarmingly high number of patients who threaten to sue him if he's not willing to give them his phone number, write an immediate referral, or prescribe opioids. These are patients with real pain, real problems, who are understandably desperate for relief, and who are easily capable of completely dominating a doctor's time and attention. The implication of an obvious disdain for humanity here is pretty uncharitable. Just as it's difficult to relate to chronic disease from the outside, I think it's difficult to relate to the challenges of treating and caring for the afflicted.