When you go to the doctor, do they really listen to you? Or do you feel like your opinion does not matter?
You’ll find that this is one of the most common complaints that people have. Since it is their body, they feel like they are the foremost expert on how they feel and what is going on. However, they often feel like their concerns are dismissed, like doctors ignore what they say or that doctors actively put them in danger by doing things against their wishes — like prescribing medications that they do not want to take.
Why do doctors do this? The reasons vary, but doctors are well educated and may feel like they know better than an uneducated patient. That doesn’t mean the patient isn’t intelligent — they could be a rocket scientist — but they don’t have a medical background.
Another issue could be the internet. Doctors may feel like patients are far too quick to Google their symptoms and come up with their own diagnosis. Then, in the office, the patient will be adamant that the doctor is wrong based on their search results.
However, even when doctors have a valid reason to believe in their own training and expertise, there is no excuse for ignoring a patient or dismissing what they have to say. A doctor who will not listen runs the risk of making a serious mistake, such as misdiagnosing a condition because he or she ignored the patient’s own account of what was going on.
If something like this happens to you, be sure you know your legal rights.