[connexions]

Why don't doctors greet their patients? Have you ever sat in a doctor's waiting room? The doctor walks in sullen and, in a measured, assured step, goes past you and enters his lair. He looks neither this nor that way. You might as well be a piece of furniture for all he seems to care. For God's sake, does it cost anything to smile a little and say a simple hi to your employers, the patients?

[milanya]

Depends on your doctor....

I love my doc in kenya, had him since I was a baby. He's like the father I never had. When I go back I make sure to go see him

In the U.S. I have met both types, some are so aloof and dont care even after you've waited 50 hrs to see them. Others, like my eye doc, I love that man, he is a great doc and fabulous human being and he has an equally fabulous wifey!

in my experience the most sullen, aloof, docs I've seen are some in the E.R. and some in low-cost clinics. i figure they are either overworked or underpaid or both...

[connexions]

Originally Posted by milanya

Depends on your doctor....

I love my doc in kenya, had him since I was a baby. He's like the father I never had. When I go back I make sure to go see him

In the U.S. I have met both types, some are so aloof and dont care even after you've waited 50 hrs to see them. Others, like my eye doc, I love that man, he is a great doc and fabulous human being and he has an equally fabulous wifey!

in my experience the most sullen, aloof, docs I've seen are some in the E.R. and some in low-cost clinics. i figure they are either overworked or underpaid or both...

Point taken!

[AlphaDog]

Your medical condition means the world to you because you are the one suffering, but to the doctor, you are just another one of the hundreds patients he sees every month.

The doctors are busy people. They have no time to stop and chit-chat. I don't think the other patient waiting for surgery would understand if his surgery was delayed just coz you wanted to chit-chat with the doctor. You will get the chance to chit-chat when the doctor is ready to see you.

And, anyway, the doctor doesn't get to see you before you get all the formalities taken care of by the nurse. That is the order of things. The nurse takes your info, including insurance info, writes down a summary of your symptoms, and takes any weight and height measurements as necessary. You then get to wait your turn in the waiting room.

Doctors cannot afford to get too personally involved in the lives of their patients, unless they are your family doctor. This would be emotionally draining, and would affect his performance. Are you willing to sacrifice the quality of medical care just for a few minutes of chit-chat?