Do you think medical practitioners judge you?

[Anonymous]

I know they aren't supposed to. But any confirmed stories where we know they do?

For example, sometimes I wonder if my therapist talks crap about me.

Or if my dentist thinks it disgusting that I could allow a cavity to occur.

Of course, this is just my random wondering.

[Anonymous]

I think they are (1) too busy with their own lives, (2) they have likely seen much worse, and (3) if you did what you are supposed to do so you didn't get cavities (as an example) how are they going to cover their bills?

[Anonymous]

Eh I think they are people. Doesn't have to do with the fact that there is obviously a medical need for them to provide care. Anyome can form biases.

[Anonymous]

Of course they do. I'm overweight. If I go in for the flu, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for a pap smear, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for migraines, they tell me I need to lose weight. The sole reason I have for any medical concerns is that I'm fat, I'm essentially being told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they do. I'm overweight. If I go in for the flu, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for a pap smear, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for migraines, they tell me I need to lose weight. The sole reason I have for any medical concerns is that I'm fat, I'm essentially being told.

I'm sorry. That has to be frustrating.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure my primary care doctor has written me off. I've been seeing her for several years and in the beginning I loved her. She took time to listen and gave me solid advice. However, I have gone through hell in my personal life the past couple of years and because of that have gotten sick a lot and have needed anxiety meds. I'm not sure if it is because of the anxiety meds, the persistent illnesses, or my stress-related weight gain, but she just doesn't take me seriously anymore. She has missed a couple of health problems because she brushed off my concerns. I tried talking her to about it but was again brushed off. I am looking for a new doctor.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry. Which Doctor?

[Anonymous]

This is OP again. I remember hearing once from a medical rep who worked with a surgeon that made a crass remark about a patient that was sedated. I can't remember the remark or details it was a long time ago. But I think it made me always wonder if this guy represented the minority, majority, or was a total anomaly.

[Anonymous]

I just read an article that polled doctors. They judge patients who are fat and who smoke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they do. I'm overweight. If I go in for the flu, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for a pap smear, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for migraines, they tell me I need to lose weight. The sole reason I have for any medical concerns is that I'm fat, I'm essentially being told.

I'm sorry. That has to be frustrating.

Welcome to DC.

[Anonymous]

They're human, so of course they do. Wouldn't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they do. I'm overweight. If I go in for the flu, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for a pap smear, they tell me I need to lose weight. If I go in for migraines, they tell me I need to lose weight. The sole reason I have for any medical concerns is that I'm fat, I'm essentially being told.

I don't necessarily think this is judgment of a personal variety, OP. As medical practitioners they know that your health could be improved by losing weight. It really does affect everything.

[Anonymous]

I once overheard ER doctors at Sibley speaking negatively about a patient who had come in suffering from an overdose. They had obviously seen her before.

[Anonymous]

Of course they judge you! Even the ones with *worse* habits than you They judge you and they forget about you. Do you know how many patients they see???

Now you know, so you can stop agonizing, OP. Everybody judges everybody else in this life. Move on.

[Anonymous]

As a teen I once heard a resident complaining about his gynecological rotation. He said he didn't want to have to touch nasty, sweaty, summertime vsgina. When I eventually did go it made my first gynecologist visit that much more traumatic.