Do Women Make Better Doctors?

Creekland
Wed, 15 Aug 2018 23:59:23 +0000

I suspect it’s the listening that makes the difference - not the gender. My med school lad says it’s being drilled in to his class to listen, listen, listen. Time will tell how many actually put it into practice when their time comes or continue to do it after a few years on the job and getting jaded into thinking they don’t need to anymore because they’ve already seen it all and therefore know it all without words being said.

For my sole data point, I just met with what I consider a fantastic doctor - cardiologist - this past Tuesday. He’s male, but what impressed me about him (and causes me to trust him) is that he took oodles of time, listened, repeated things in his own words allowing me to modify what I said, and explained his thoughts.

Having seen a fair number of doctors of both genders over the past 5 years (from brain tumor on), that rare and most really don’t get what I’m trying to say - as is evidenced by the tests they order (once I come home to look them up or ask about them) and their conclusions - fair from those tests, but the tests aren’t what was needed. When I suggest things (based upon what I’ve looked up or asked about), most instantly dismiss my thoughts as if I’m a preschool kid. This guy is able to talk as if we’re peers with my having more knowledge about what’s going on and him having more knowledge on possibilities for causes. It’s far more of a team.

The only other doctor who was as “good” was the first eye doctor I saw en route to finding the brain tumor. Interestingly enough, it sure didn’t take him long to figure out it was a tumor. Another doctor I saw actually told me he didn’t see where I had any vision issues at all. Ok then. I guess I don’t know what I’m seeing after all! I must be really dumb… just go home because it’s all stress/hormones or being out of shape (the only things women ever get).