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in my own experience (with my wife's chronic condition), most doctors are extremely dismissive if they don't have the answer off-hand. I don't know why this is

in my own experience (with my wife's chronic condition), most doctors are extremely dismissive if they don't have the answer off-hand. I don't know why this is - but reactions ranged from saying she was lying or was addicted to painkillers (despite not asking for painkillers) to switching back and forth between two common diagnoses even though they were quite clearly inaccurate. I have no faith in the front-line medical system to be able to deal with anything less blatant than a broken bone or a flu, if only due to what appears to be doctors' near-universal refusal to respond to uncertainty with humility and curiosity.

Arete314159 6y ago
After many similar experiences with doctors, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that about 80% are only interested in time preservation and ego preservation. If they don't know the answer in 5 minutes, then obviously you must be crazy. 2 minutes, if you're a woman. They are allergic to 3 little words: "I don't know."
- pnutjam 6y ago
  ...2 minutes, if you're a woman... This is too accurate. Our medical system treats women as a minority or nonstandard patient. This is crazy when women are actually a slight majority over men. Usually around 51% of the population.