Doctor stories: What are your experiences with diagnoses?

Look, if you’re talking to me, first off, I’m a guy, not a lady. Second, I also grew up in a small town, so we aren't exactly worlds apart there. Third, that Chief of Medicine was actually a professor at the medical school for most of my mother's colleagues. And honestly, if you’re currently a medical student, I have to say—I’m genuinely terrified of catching anything after seeing your level of literacy.

You can talk about my literacy all you want. Honestly, my writing style has nothing to do with the actual point of this post. If I wanted to sit down and write a literary masterpiece, I would—but I just don't feel like it. This is a message board, after all; I’m going to write how I want. I’ve written every single one of my posts like this because frankly, I can't be bothered to worry about perfect punctuation or capitalization.
And for the record, I wasn't even addressing you specifically.
Everyone here seems so incredibly sensitive—as if everything has to happen exactly according to your little imagination. Guess What, it simply doesn't work that way for everyone. I wish things were perfect too, and I wish we had all the answers so there wouldn't be any misdiagnoses and life would be easier, but let's be real... arguing about this feels absurd at this point. There are a thousand different opinions, and there will always be someone who isn't satisfied.

It would be nice if she taught it; if she's still around, maybe she'll teach me too, and I can actually learn a few things...

And yeah, by the way, let's not insult each other. I haven't called anyone illiterate, nor have I insulted anyone, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't do the same to me. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and the right to write however they please.

Look, like I said before: all respect to the good, honest doctors out there—they’re few and far between, but they exist. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Nobody is claiming that holding someone's life in your hands is easy or simple. In my opinion, they should be paid significantly more, but in exchange, they ought to have a much higher standard of communication, basic decency, and actual human empathy when dealing with patients.
And I mean people, because at the end of the day, they are working with human beings.
The younger doctors actually still seem to possess some humanity. But as I’ve pointed out, once you build a reputation and get that plaque on the wall, the attitude changes.
How is it even possible that a handful of doctors over a span of just a few years can have absolutely no clue what a patient is actually suffering from?? You have medical boards and consultations for a reason; there are multiple sets of eyes in the room. What on earth are you doing in there??

At the end of the day, this is a forum. We tear every topic apart a thousand times here, and a massive amount of opinions get thrown around. And yeah, in a little while, someone else will open a thread just like this one --> why? Maybe out of pure boredom, or maybe because something happened in their own life regarding this issue. And we'll dive right back into the debate.

And honestly, forgive us if we get offensive when a doctor says things like:
- When our baby was only 3 months old, a doctor casually mentions in passing that the child has developmental issues; when I turned pale from shock, she actually asked me why I was getting so upset (??)
- Just deadpan, without any prior testing or exams, telling you: "Your child has leukemia."
- In the medical history at one of our major hospitals in Chicago, a doctor wrote that I had beaten the child on the butt because of a hematoma—when in reality, that hematoma was a reaction to a vaccine.
- Regarding a purple, pulsing lump on a leg, she tells my father to just apply some crushed herbs and ice, saying it'll pass --> then weeks later, a hematologist laughs at him for even coming into the hospital for a hematoma, so my dad insisted he take a proper look. It turns out it was an aneurysm (I don't know if I spelled that right). As it turns out, it was cancer.
.............

As for the insults... if that's the case, I don't see why everyone has to resort to swearing.....

Noah Vaughn3 said:It’s probably because people in small towns don't just watch their own backs like they do in big cities. And honestly, that isn't even a bad thing—those kinds of doctors at least don't overthink things and don't act like they care too much about everything.

Wonderful!

Stop acting like people expect doctors to be infallible. I just told you that my father's eye was botched by medical staff, and we accept it as part of the statistics where someone else inevitably pays the price. This isn't about perfection; it's about doctors refusing to admit when they've messed up and how they treat people. I cannot tolerate arrogance or dismissive attitudes toward patients, regardless of how bad their day is. We are talking about sick people who are often terrified and bracing for bad news. If your professors are really like that, do something about it—start petitions, file complaints, or at least try to change the system.

As for the literacy comment, whoever called you out was likely referring to basic grammar rules, like failing to attach negatives to verbs correctly. That is something you should have mastered in grade school; it has nothing to do with the casual way people write on internet forums.

This relates back to my previous point—I already mentioned I have zero interest in using proper capitalization, punctuation, or fixing my grammar, so please don't come for me. Just because I choose not to write by textbook standards doesn't mean I don't know how to write...

Sure, professors can be like that, and frankly, nothing is ever going to change them.
Doctors don't allow themselves to act that way, but when things go sideways, they just happen—it doesn't always have to be intentional.
They expect absolute perfection, and I could argue this point a thousand times if necessary. I think that regardless of how much I want to be approachable and try to understand your perspectives—and I really am trying—it might just take some time. Right now, I’m just not feeling it. Perhaps it's better if I step away from the topic so I don't get lynched, allowing you all to continue sharing your experiences. It seems not many people have come forward with truly shocking stories yet—maybe the majority isn't actually corrupt... ah well, someday.

Enjoy yourselves.

Your posts really highlight the root cause of what doctors are becoming. You clearly draw a line between them and "normal people" (as you put it), and you get why patients find them so grating and intrusive. See, doctors make that same distinction between themselves and the rest of us; they act like these all-knowing, untouchable demi-gods. I’ve never heard—aside from friends venting in private—of a doctor actually admitting they don't know something or referring a patient to a colleague of the same specialty because they might have better answers. If they carry themselves that way, why are they surprised when people expect them to be infallible? Personally, I only respect them if they're actually good at their jobs and approachable. Is there any other reason to hold them in higher regard than anyone else?

Noah Vaughn3 said:i dont feel like using punctuation or capital letters.

You wrote this, but you didn't mention it was a negation. I've never heard anyone claim they write without punctuation simply because they "can't be bothered" to separate words, and I highly doubt that's a valid excuse. If that's true, then the way you write is pure arrogance. Do you write in English however you feel like it, too?

Look, I’m not making any distinctions here—we’ve been different since day one of med school. We're the elite, or so they say, which is where all that arrogance, rudeness, and corruption starts to take root. So, fine, if you insist, I truly believe I'm a demigod—though I'm not actually immortal. 🙄
You're the ones drawing lines, not me. Someone mentioned earlier that there's no room for error in this profession—as if that were news—but beyond that, people simply treat doctors differently than they treat those in other fields. My apologies, I didn't realize at the moment how to properly phrase it for non-medical professionals; let's just call them people in other occupations, if that works for you.

Doubt whatever you want. Honestly, the opinions of people I don't know and don't care about mean absolutely nothing to me. You keep your thoughts, I'll keep mine, and everyone can be perfectly happy and satisfied.
By the way, go back and read that post where I wrote "correctly" to see if I actually separate my negatives... then don't come telling me otherwise.
It seems you ran out of things to actually comment on, so you've settled for nitpicking my forum etiquette. It's honestly pathetic.

Who’s actually being arrogant here: the patient showing up at 3 AM to see a doctor for a sore throat—something that isn't going to suddenly turn fatal by sunrise—or the doctor who gets called in, acts grumpy because they’ve been on their feet all day and maybe squeezed in two hours of sleep, yet still manages to do their job.

I remember this one brutal night shift in the infectious disease ward... my colleague and I had been running around like madmen since morning, the clinic was packed, just sprinting back and forth for quick bathroom breaks or a fifteen-minute bite to eat. Then a nurse walks into the exam room and tells me, "Doctor, dinner is served at 7," and right then, the little kid I'm examining looks up at me with this heartbreakingly accusatory tone and says, "But the waiting room is full."

Honestly, my blood was boiling... the only thing keeping me from losing my cool and letting everyone have it was how I was raised. I mean, seriously, what kind of machine runs without fuel? Yet I'm expected to work without food, water, or even a bathroom break until I pass out. Humanity? Where's the humanity for us?

I don't take bribes, even though people have offered me a few times. And I treat every single patient like a human being. Unfortunately, I can't say the same applies to how they treat me. It really stings when I've been accused multiple times of taking kickbacks just because I'm a doctor. Like, where do people get the right to dump their frustrations on me? What does that have to do with anything? For example, I have zero connection to those high-flying cardiac surgeons over in the big metropolitan hospitals. I drive a Korean car, I'm paying off a mortgage that'll last until I'm old, and one of these days I might just snap and break someone's teeth if they accuse me of corruption again.

Don't you see how medical errors are used as a smokescreen to distract from the status quo whenever something goes wrong? They just fill up the pages during pickling season. A friend of mine was convinced that meningococcal sepsis is more common in the summer just because there's more coverage about it in the news. Which is completely contrary to the truth. And how can anyone trust newspapers that call meningocccal a "bacterium"... calling a spherical bacterium a rod shape... which is totally wrong and just amateurish writing.

Exclusivity is a nasty thing. Intolerance is too. Maybe it makes life easier because you don't have to think as much, but it's sad to see how much it's spread. In a country where I've chosen to stay because I love it, even while my friends moved to the States and are making ten times what I am.

🙏

And regarding my tendency to draw a line between doctors and other professions... honestly, I deal with this abroad all the time. People hit me with that, "Oh, you're in med school? You must think you're part of some elite class, huh?" It’s exhausting—either people are trying to suck up to me, or those who genuinely despise me are making their feelings very clear.

Honestly, who’s actually being arrogant here? Is it the doctor demanding I provide a urine sample, or is it me—the uneducated patient—for having the audacity to ask if those two things aren't exactly the same thing? Apparently, questioning her brilliance is enough to get me kicked right out of the office.

Benjamin Murphy2 said:Who’s actually being the arrogant one here? Is it the patient who rolls into the ER at three in the morning because they have a sore throat—a condition that, let's be honest, isn't going to drastically change between now and sunrise—or is it the doctor who shows up, acts grumpy because they’ve been on shift all day and maybe only squeezed in two hours of sleep, but ultimately just does their job? I guess it depends on how you look at it, but I can't help but wonder where the line is drawn.

I remember this one shift I had at the infectious disease ward that was just absolute hell. My colleague and I were basically running around like headless chickens from the moment we clocked in; the ER was completely slammed, and we were just grinding away all morning. We barely had time to breathe, let alone eat—just those frantic fifteen-minute breaks to grab a quick bite or run to the restroom before diving right back into the chaos. Then, out of nowhere, a nurse walks into the exam room and says, "Doctor, dinner is being served at 7:00." Right then, the kid I was actually treating looks up at me with this incredibly pathetic, accusatory little expression and goes, "But the waiting room is full."

Honestly, I feel like my ears are starting to ring from all this nonsense. If it weren't for the way I was raised, I probably would have just gone ahead and called everyone out exactly as they are. I mean, seriously, what kind of machine is expected to run without any fuel? It feels like they expect me to just function without food, water, or even a bathroom break until I finally burn out! Where is the humanity in that? Is there any compassion left for us at all?

I don't take bribes, even though people have tried to offer them to me more than a few times. My philosophy is simple: I treat every single patient like a human being. Unfortunately, I can't say that every patient treats me with that same level of humanity. That’s why it hurts so much when I get accused—time and again—of being one of those doctors who definitely takes kickbacks just because of my title. I mean, honestly, where do people get the right to dump all their frustrations on me? It's like, what does that have to do with me? If someone is upset with cardiac surgeons over at a major hospital like Mayo Clinic, why am I the target? I drive a Korean car, and I took out a mortgage on my house that I’ll probably be paying off until the day I die. One of these days, I might just snap and lose my cool, and then someone will probably sue me for corruption. It's exhausting.

Don't you all see how medical errors are being weaponized to distract the public whenever something significant actually happens? It feels like they just start churning out filler content during the off-season to cloud everyone's judgment. A close friend of mine was actually convinced that meningococcal sepsis cases spike in the summer, simply because that’s when the news cycle starts obsessing over it. But honestly, that’s the exact opposite of the truth. It makes me wonder—how can anyone actually trust the newspapers when they manipulate the narrative around things like meningitis?I honestly feel like we haven't really touched on this yet, but I was just sitting here thinking about the whole situation with koka. It’s one of those things where you want to have a firm opinion, but everything feels so layered and complicated that I find myself hesitating to jump to any conclusions. Maybe I'm overthinking it, or maybe there's just more to the story than what's being said right now. I guess I'm just trying to wrap my head around how all these moving parts fit together. It's definitely something worth keeping an eye on, though. I guess I should probably just declare it then...kSo, they're claiming it’s a spherical bacterium instead of a rod-shaped one—which is just completely wrong. Honestly, the way they wrote that was so amateurish and poorly executed; it felt totally unrefined.

Intolerance is such a heavy thing to deal with. Honestly, the sheer level of exclusion we see lately is just devastating. I suppose it’s easier for some people to live that way—it takes less mental effort when you don't have to actually think about anyone else's perspective—but it breaks my heart to see it spreading like this. It feels especially bitter because I chose to stay here in the States because I truly love this country, even while watching my closest friends move away to places where they can earn ten times what I make. I guess there's a certain irony in staying loyal to a place that sometimes feels increasingly closed off.

It isn't really that people are too lazy to think; I think it’s more that they actually lack the capacity to do so, which honestly feels much worse. In my opinion, this whole debate is kind of pointless—it just seems like a way for everyone to vent their frustrations. If you look closely at what's happening here, it’s a perfect example of how nothing in life is ever truly black and white, though people love to pretend it is. I can see where both sides are coming from. I genuinely empathize with those who are frustrated with doctors, but I also understand those who defend them. In my own experience, I’ve encountered both excellent physicians and some pretty terrible ones. It's just one of those things. As my partner always says, even doctors had to pass their board exams, and let's be real, not everyone gets an A+. Some people struggle through it. Whenever I felt like something wasn't right with my own care, I made sure to politely seek out a second opinion. If I recall correctly, under U.S. healthcare standards, patients absolutely have the legal right to do exactly that.
So, Benjamin Murphy2, I was wondering... would you consider being my doctor? 😍 😍 😁

Benjamin Murphy2, you shouldn't let it get to you when people link corruption directly to doctors. You just happen to belong to the specific group of people that others tend to resent most—and you have to wonder why it's always physicians specifically that draw such ire—while simultaneously fearing them (a fear that, unfortunately, doctors often exploit).
My own profession is pretty much loathed, and I frequently get addressed in the same way you are, but so what? It never occurs to me to complain because I know they often have a point, so I try to change that perception through small, incremental actions.

Noah Vaughn3, you're still young, yet you're already using such heavy rhetoric, and you're letting "people you don't even care about" on a random forum get under your skin. Calm down a bit; you've got a long career ahead dealing with all sorts of personalities, and you're going to need thicker skin.

Believe me, nobody is getting under my skin here—I’m actually sorry you all feel that way. It seems like no matter how I phrase things, it’s always wrong; if I say one thing, it's bad, if I say another, it's bad... apparently, I can never get it right.
I have much more important things to deal with than this forum "chatter." For me, this is just a way to unwind after everything else goes down—it's how I decompress. Honestly, this nonsense is actually good for me, because it gives me a space to say whatever I want without anyone knowing who I am or giving a damn. 😬

Noah Vaughn3 said:🙏

And regarding that whole thing about me separating doctors from every other profession... man, it happens to me all the time out there. People are always like, "Oh, you're studying medicine? You think you're part of some elite class, huh?" I mean, seriously... either people act like this or they try to suck up to me—or even worse, the ones who absolutely despise me from the bottom of their hearts
.

I don't see why anyone would bother sucking up to you, because honestly, what kind of influence do you actually have? 😲
In a city like New York, and honestly everywhere else too, I could probably "buy" just about any doctor I wanted.😬

Also, what is with this "whatever" attitude? Like, seriously, where does that come from? 😁

We use the term "de" back in my hometown—I have no idea how it ended up being used here... but I know we say
de means "give me"
for example, "de nemoj" (give me a break) 😬
I haven't even finished my degree yet, but my "dear" friends clearly realize they can milk me for everything I'm worth.
Since my mother is a doctor and now I'm studying medicine too... it would be right in their interest. They can cut to the front of the line, get free meds, or snag a prescription. What do you think their motive is? It certainly pays to have connections everywhere.

Noah Vaughn3 said:Believe me, nobody has managed to get under my skin quite like this. It’s honestly exhausting. I feel terrible that you all see me this way, because truly, no matter how I approach this, I can't seem to win. If I say one thing, it's wrong. If I try something else, it's also wrong. It feels like nothing I write is ever good enough for this group. It's just constant criticism, no matter what.

You don't have any actual arguments, and frankly, your excuses—as we "mere mortals" like to call them—just don't hold water. Sorry, but that's just the reality of the situation.

Benjamin Murphy2Honestly, props to you—keep that mindset. Nobody in my circle lumps all doctors into one big, messy pile. It’s just not realistic. Patients aren't clones, and doctors certainly aren't either. My own family has been through the wringer with some truly terrible medical professionals, and let me tell you, those experiences leave a mark. But even after all that, I still find myself hoping that the next one we encounter might actually be different. It’s rare, but there really are a handful of doctors out there where you feel like you can actually trust them—people who offer a genuine sense of warmth instead of just treating you like another number on a chart.
Look, when someone rolls into an ER at three in the morning because their throat feels like they swallowed broken glass, they aren't there because they have nothing better to do. Trust me, I know—I’ve been that guy, staring at the fluorescent lights, wondering why my life led me to this moment. And when you see a mother sitting in a packed waiting room with her kid, eyes wide and exhausted after waiting for hours? She isn't just killing time. She is terrified for her child. That is pure, raw human instinct. It’s what we do.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around why there is such an intense, constant demand for doctors to pull these grueling, marathon shifts and endless overnight on-calls. It makes zero sense to me. I’ve seen it happen far too often—brilliant physicians being ground down by sheer exhaustion because the system demands they stay on duty long after their brains should have checked out for the night. It feels fundamentally broken.

Noah Vaughn3 said:Look, I have much better things to do with my life than engage in this endless forum "chatter." For me, scrolling through this nonsense is just a way to unwind after dealing with actual problems in the real world—it’s how I decompress. Honestly, this whole mess serves a purpose for me because it gives me a place to vent whatever's on my mind without any consequences. Nobody here knows who I am, and frankly, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks. 😬

Look, you have much more pressing matters to deal with in your life, yet you’re using this as your primary way to unwind and blow off steam? It just doesn't add up. One thing simply does not go with the other.

You can say whatever the hell you want, but let’s be real—your level of discourse is absolutely bottom-tier. 😬

Look, let's get one thing straight—I write how I want and when I want, and if I feel like swearing, I will. You think doctors are all sunshine and roses? Please. I’ve never been one to play nice just for the sake of it; I prefer being blunt. Everyone knows exactly where I stand right away, rather than acting polite while stabbing people in the back. Heaven forbid you post something a little raw on a forum... honestly.

One thing is certain: nothing is ever good enough for you. Since I don't have the patience to sugarcoat my arguments just to keep everyone happy and satisfied, you lot never seem to be

My way of expressing myself is leveled specifically so you can actually understand me. If I started throwing around Latin phrases and academic nonsense, you’d just find something else to fight about. This way, I can reach everyone reading this forum—from the blue-collar workers to the Ivy League types alike.

Just so we're clear, most doctors I encounter are just like Benjamin Murphy2. There are plenty of them out there making "mistakes," and if I weren't here stirring the pot, people wouldn't even bother arguing—this entire thread wouldn't even make it past two pages without me starting a fight.

You know... I enjoy starting debates and "fighting." It's practically in my DNA.😬

I mean, what exactly is ever good enough for us, huh? 👋

khm... knowing Latin doesn't exactly mean you have a way with words😉

but I guess you just can't seem to wrap your head around that😬

PS honestly, I really hope I never end up in a situation where you're the one treating me at the hospital one day

Benjamin Murphy2 said:brisknomad6, you're overreacting.

i'm not overreacting... I mean, in my opinion, a doctor really needs more than just technical skill—they need actual humanity, empathy, and this genuine drive to actually explain things to people...

this young lady seems to think all doctors are basically gods who deserve our constant worship... and, honestly, she thinks everyone treats her like a friend just because she's studying medicine, which is something I don't even want to talk about...

Are you all blind or what?
First off, go back and read my previous posts—you'll see I'm certainly not out here praising doctors or suggesting anyone needs to bow down to them. But that’s exactly what you lot do; the second things get messy, you spiral into this panic, acting like knowing a doctor is some kind of magic shield. Don't try to sell me on the spike. I know who my friends are, and I also know exactly who used me regarding this matter—I'm well aware of being exploited, yet I still manage to remain rational and polite toward them. I’ve never found it difficult to do something for anyone, whether they're someone I know, someone I love, or someone I can't stand.

As for those parts where I write as if doctors are some divine gift... you know what that is, right? Cynicism.
Honestly, I don't think studying medicine even pays off anymore. I would do it for free—that's how much I love it. I'm willing to sacrifice myself just so people like you can spit on me. Why? Because I actually care about people (though I might have to reconsider that once I get older). But look... here in the States... I'm not far from working for free anyway. Given everything you have to endure for this profession, the pay is pathetic.

Benjamin Murphy2, thanks for understanding.