Why is there such a "God complex" among doctors?

goldenmason32 said:I don't quite follow—why would she keep eating bacon if she knows it's prohibited? It seems she's facing the consequences of her damaged arteries. ☕
I often wonder why liver transplants aren't given to people struggling with alcoholism. There was one notable exception, though, and that was Bob Dylan.
Because of him, someone else who wasn't even an alcoholic ended up being denied a transplant... 😠

So what now? Why couldn't Bob Dylan just buy a new liver every few years? 🤷 A person like that could probably afford it. We aren't living under a command economy where everyone is limited to just one liver. ☕

Susan Rodriguez72 said:Oh, absolutely terrifying! 😠
My point is simple: you shouldn't just let a person die if you have the power to help them. It shouldn't matter who they are. Maybe they're a total scumbag, a thief, or a predator... but hey, they don't smoke and they don't eat greasy food. Who are we to play God and decide they aren't worth the assistance?
Or what if someone is a wonderful person, works hard, and is raising three kids, but drinks just a little too much? Is that really enough reason to deny them a bypass or a stent?

No, that's not quite how it works. You're misinterpreting. Someone who "struggles with habits" might still get the stent, but they have to commit to a specific lifestyle afterward. I mean, they'll be back on the highway eventually, so how long can they keep this up? And at the end of the day, you and I are both footing the bill for those irresponsible choices and the constant cycle of repeating the same mistakes...

Ryan Wood98 said:So what now? Why couldn't Bob Dylan just buy a new liver every few years? 🤷 A person like that could probably afford it. We aren't living under a command economy where everyone is limited to just one liver. ☕

Getting a bit off track here...
Honestly, I feel like doctors only act like they’re some kind of higher power if you actually let them. It’s all about the dynamic, you know? Nobody is "God's gift to humanity." If you sit there letting someone talk down to you, being rude or treating you like you don't matter while you just nod along and stay quiet... well, you're kind of complicit in that, aren't you? You have to stand up for yourself! Demand your rights, file a complaint with the medical board, get a second opinion, and for heaven's sake, educate yourself on what you're actually entitled to. Knowledge is everything.

And we’re all paying for it, aren't we? I certainly am.

So what's the plan? Set aside some cash... let me check my watchlist...$169...and maybe see a doctor once a year. If I had the choice, I’d pour everything into private coverage—just my own premium health insurance. But who can actually trust them? Who guarantees that some bureaucrat at the insurance company won't just deny an essential surgery when the time comes, purely to pad their own profit margins?
Go watch Moore: Sicko! by
It's mandatory viewing for anyone working in healthcare, or any citizen who actually needs it. 😁

", if you allow someone to belittle you, be rude, or talk down to you while you just tremble, nod, and stay silent; then you are the one to blame!"

Real life isn't quite that simple, is it?
A doctor leaves you waiting for hours without a word. Is that being rude? Maybe not strictly, but it's indescribably unpleasant. They skip the diagnostic protocols they should be following and instead just "handle" you with two basic tests—look left, look right, okay, you're fine, goodbye!

Susan Rodriguez72 said:

And we’re all paying for it, aren't we? I certainly am.

So what's the plan? Set aside some cash... let me check my watchlist...$169...and maybe see a doctor once a year. If I had the choice, I’d pour everything into private coverage—just my own premium health insurance. But who can actually trust them? Who guarantees that some bureaucrat at the insurance company won't just deny an essential surgery when the time comes, purely to pad their own profit margins?
Go watch Moore: Sicko! by
It's mandatory viewing for anyone working in healthcare, or any citizen who actually needs it. 😁

", if you allow someone to belittle you, be rude, or talk down to you while you just tremble, nod, and stay silent; then you are the one to blame!"

Real life isn't quite that simple, is it?
A doctor leaves you waiting for hours without a word. Is that being rude? Maybe not strictly, but it's indescribably unpleasant. They skip the diagnostic protocols they should be following and instead just "handle" you with two basic tests—look left, look right, okay, you're fine, goodbye!

Now, don't get me wrong—the American healthcare system is far from perfect. It's nowhere near perfect...

But at the same time, Moore isn't exactly a documentary filmmaker you can take at face value. He’s more of a classic propagandist and self-promoter than anything else, though that’s a conversation for another day.

Susan Rodriguez72 said:

And we’re all paying for it, aren't we? I certainly am.

So what's the plan? Set aside some cash... let me check my watchlist...$169...and maybe see a doctor once a year. If I had the choice, I’d pour everything into private coverage—just my own premium health insurance. But who can actually trust them? Who guarantees that some bureaucrat at the insurance company won't just deny an essential surgery when the time comes, purely to pad their own profit margins?
Go watch Moore: Sicko! by
It's mandatory viewing for anyone working in healthcare, or any citizen who actually needs it. 😁

", if you allow someone to belittle you, be rude, or talk down to you while you just tremble, nod, and stay silent; then you are the one to blame!"

Real life isn't quite that simple, is it?
A doctor leaves you waiting for hours without a word. Is that being rude? Maybe not strictly, but it's indescribably unpleasant. They skip the diagnostic protocols they should be following and instead just "handle" you with two basic tests—look left, look right, okay, you're fine, goodbye!

I’ve got Sicko sitting right there in my personal video library—I've watched it more times than I care to admit—and honestly? It makes me nervous. I really don't want to see a system like that taking root here in the States, but it feels like we're already starting to drift in that direction.
So, you’re telling this doctor—this guy who basically just skims through you without actually doing the work, you know? Like, he’s supposed to be documenting everything in your medical history, but he's clearly just checking boxes. And then you have the nerve to look him right in the eye and say, "Look, I'm not happy. I want to see exactly what you did written down in black and white." You tell him straight up that you're going to seek a second opinion from someone else and that you might just file a formal complaint with the Medical Board because his exam was so superficial. It’s like... if a mechanic just glances at your engine and says it's fine when you *know* it's knocking, you'd call them out, right? And honestly, if someone is being rude or unprofessional to you, why shouldn't you say something? Just lay it out there: "You're being unpleasant and totally unprofessional." It's about setting boundaries. If enough people start filing those complaints with the Board, eventually they'll call him in for a little chat, and suddenly, I bet you'll see him acting a whole lot differently. It's all about accountability. Sometimes you just have to stand your ground.
Look, you shouldn't be going in there yelling—keep it civil, keep that tone calm and collected. You have every right to ask for your sister to be in the room during an exam, you know? Or, if things are really going south, just ask to speak with the Chief of Medicine for that department and calmly lay out exactly what’s wrong with the doctor you're seeing. And hey, this isn't some sci-fi movie plot I'm cooking up here; this is straight from my own life. This is what actually happened to me during my time at Mayo Clinic in the OBGYN department, and this is exactly how I handled the whole mess...

Michael Ortiz68 said:Now, don't get me wrong—the American healthcare system is far from perfect. It's nowhere near perfect...

But at the same time, Moore isn't exactly a documentary filmmaker you can take at face value. He’s more of a classic propagandist and self-promoter than anything else, though that’s a conversation for another day.

And who exactly told you that? The people who felt personally attacked by that documentary?
Everything deserves a healthy dose of common sense and critical thinking, doesn't it?

Brenda Sanders46, sure, that sounds great in theory. But when you're actually facing this, you're exhausted, broken, and too drained to go out and fight windmills.
Isn't it just easier to seek a second opinion or find a new doctor than to struggle against an incompetent professional in the US healthcare system?

I guess we’re back at square one again. People always ask why doctors can be a bit brusque sometimes. Honestly? It’s probably just because they’re totally burnt out. They aren't even heading home after a shift; they're usually stuck staying late at the hospital because there simply isn't enough staff to cover the floor.😢

Susan Rodriguez72 said:Brenda Sanders46, sure, that sounds great in theory. But when you're actually facing this, you're exhausted, broken, and too drained to go out and fight windmills.
Isn't it just easier to seek a second opinion or find a new doctor than to struggle against an incompetent professional in the US healthcare system?

You’ve gotta fight, though! Especially since it’s YOUR health on the line. Personally, whenever I'm under the weather, I tend to get even more feisty if I feel like things aren't being handled fairly.

Susan Rodriguez72 said:And who exactly told you that? The people who felt personally attacked by that documentary?
Everything deserves a healthy dose of common sense and critical thinking, doesn't it?

Naturally. Why would anyone watch a documentarian driven by an agenda? The type who cherry-picks every single detail to support their preconceived notion while tossing everything else into the cutting room floor?

Look, I’m no cheerleader for the American healthcare system, but I certainly don't find much credibility in someone who relies on all their documentaries being built on nothing but clever editing and empty rhetoric—stuff that has been "debunked" countless times over the years.

At the end of the day, I was just trying to offer some advice rather than nitpick the flaws in your argument.
Let's move on from Moore. He already litters this forum with far too many of "his" specific topics...😁

The American healthcare system is what it is because

1. The middle class and the wealthy have zero interest in footing the bill for the white trash and Mexican immigrants living out in the suburbs—people who don't want to work because they'd rather just lounge around watching Oprah with a massive bag of chips and a sweet Cola in hand.

I mean, look at it: you've got some average Joe grinding 12-hour shifts just so some Jennifer—who does nothing but eat, sleep, and pop out kids—or some Juan, who brought his entire family (great-grandmother included) all the way from Mexico City, can access medical services. It’s just not fair.

2. Americans pour insane amounts of money into scientific research (probably more than anyone else on the planet), we have the top-tier medical schools, and the best doctors. Like, 90% of medical publications come out of the States; even medical textbooks used overseas are basically just a lazy copy-paste of American ones.

No matter how messy the US system gets, its health outcomes are miles ahead of any post-communist model. Life expectancy in the USA is around 78, while in places with those old-school models, it's stuck at 75.

Over there, people think it's totally fine to pay out of pocket for a lawyer or a court defense, yet they expect healthcare to be handed to them for free.
Medication and diagnostics are getting better and better (which also means they get more expensive), and you can't seriously expect everything to be FREE or even as cheap as it is now. Even if you try to squeeze doctors by paying them minimum wage, the cost of healthcare is inevitably going up.

The pharma industry and diagnostic manufacturers run on market principles. You can't do 21st-century medicine without serious funding.

Susan Rodriguez72 said:I’d say the exact same thing about psychologists. :P
Everyone acts like they're the smartest person in the room, mostly because they actually have the tools—and some even have the nerve—to manipulate people!

Honestly, it's just human nature to try and look down on everyone else, especially when you're dealing with massive egos... I can think of plenty of clowns who fit that description perfectly.🤣

But, if we aren't talking about your typical family doctor, most of them are basically just salespeople who happen to know a bit more about their product than the average person—and even then, half the time they don't know nearly as much as they claim.🙂..It’s an incredibly heavy responsibility, yet you get all sorts of personalities entering the field. Some genuinely want to help people, while others are just there to feed their own ego.😍

A job is just a job 🙄
Some people actually love what they do, others hate it, some are pros, and some are just incompetent. You’ll find terrible, rude mechanics out there, and you’ll find them among doctors too. It’s the same story regardless of the profession.
Plus, the pay isn't even worth all those years spent in school 🤷

Susan Rodriguez72 said:Oh, absolutely terrifying! 😠
My point is simple: you shouldn't just let a person die if you have the power to help them. It shouldn't matter who they are. Maybe they're a total scumbag, a thief, or a predator... but hey, they don't smoke and they don't eat greasy food. Who are we to play God and decide they aren't worth the assistance?
Or what if someone is a wonderful person, works hard, and is raising three kids, but drinks just a little too much? Is that really enough reason to deny them a bypass or a stent?

That is precisely why the Hippocratic Oath exists...

Taylor Patel6 said:A job is just a job 🙄
Some people actually love what they do, others hate it, some are pros, and some are just incompetent. You’ll find terrible, rude mechanics out there, and you’ll find them among doctors too. It’s the same story regardless of the profession.
Plus, the pay isn't even worth all those years spent in school 🤷

🙏 I am relieved someone finally had the courage to say it out loud!

Currently, I find myself at a crossroads, deciding on a major and a future career path, and I can see myself gravitating toward medicine—primarily because I possess a sincere empathy for people. In contrast, those driven purely by profit tend to gravitate toward pharmacy, which has devolved into little more than a glorified clerical role, or dentistry, where the primary focus seems to be the rapid accumulation of wealth... whatever the case may be.

Back in school, my guidance counselor never missed an opportunity to lecture us on how medical students are inherently arrogant, judgmental, and overly critical of everyone else. 👎 Yet, one has to wonder how many of these highly esteemed physicians would actually marry someone who only completed high school? They certainly wouldn't want anyone suggesting that technicians or service workers are somehow less valuable than themselves. If everyone feels so insulted by the perceived elitism of the field, why didn't they pursue medicine themselves and prove otherwise? 🤷

It is an undeniable fact that there are those who inherit a sense of calling to heal, and then there are those who simply fall into a mindless routine. But this is a symptom of a larger issue; our entire society is fundamentally fractured, and America often feels like a deeply unpleasant place to live. Very few people actually commit themselves to mastering a craft, yet everyone seems remarkably eager to sit on the sidelines and criticize those who do.

There is a different temperament for every individual, and frankly, it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

David Morgan72 said:🙏 I am relieved someone finally had the courage to say it out loud!

Currently, I find myself at a crossroads, deciding on a major and a future career path, and I can see myself gravitating toward medicine—primarily because I possess a sincere empathy for people. In contrast, those driven purely by profit tend to gravitate toward pharmacy, which has devolved into little more than a glorified clerical role, or dentistry, where the primary focus seems to be the rapid accumulation of wealth... whatever the case may be.

Back in school, my guidance counselor never missed an opportunity to lecture us on how medical students are inherently arrogant, judgmental, and overly critical of everyone else. 👎 Yet, one has to wonder how many of these highly esteemed physicians would actually marry someone who only completed high school? They certainly wouldn't want anyone suggesting that technicians or service workers are somehow less valuable than themselves. If everyone feels so insulted by the perceived elitism of the field, why didn't they pursue medicine themselves and prove otherwise? 🤷

It is an undeniable fact that there are those who inherit a sense of calling to heal, and then there are those who simply fall into a mindless routine. But this is a symptom of a larger issue; our entire society is fundamentally fractured, and America often feels like a deeply unpleasant place to live. Very few people actually commit themselves to mastering a craft, yet everyone seems remarkably eager to sit on the sidelines and criticize those who do.

There is a different temperament for every individual, and frankly, it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

Honestly, it sounds like your counselor has completely lost her grip on reality. It’s pretty obvious she’s just projecting some deep-seated inferiority complex because she didn't marry a doctor or become one herself.

She really ought to have her license revoked; there's no way a professional should be that subjective. Unbelievable.

It’s just an accepted social norm at this point. You know the old saying, "The priest and the doctor are the pillars of the community." 😉

There are all kinds of people out there, including doctors, just like in any other profession. The only difference is that their level of responsibility far outweighs almost any other field (though pilots are up there too). Personally, I know plenty of physicians and med students, and they come in all varieties—for heaven's sake, we're only human. You’ll find arrogant jerks, and you'll find genuinely wonderful people. But regardless of personality, they are underpaid . When you consider the years of grueling study, the sheer amount of effort required, the massive responsibilities they carry, and the extreme stress of the job, how much can they actually be paid???

redharbor23 said:It’s just an accepted social norm at this point. You know the old saying, "The priest and the doctor are the pillars of the community." 😉

There are all kinds of people out there, including doctors, just like in any other profession. The only difference is that their level of responsibility far outweighs almost any other field (though pilots are up there too). Personally, I know plenty of physicians and med students, and they come in all varieties—for heaven's sake, we're only human. You’ll find arrogant jerks, and you'll find genuinely wonderful people. But regardless of personality, they are underpaid . When you consider the years of grueling study, the sheer amount of effort required, the massive responsibilities they carry, and the extreme stress of the job, how much can they actually be paid???

It’s honestly ridiculous. A doctor who just finished med school is making less than my hairstylist and, if I’m not mistaken, an average garbage man. 🤔

👎👎👎

I didn't even think about Donna Wood52—much less anything involving a fetish. Honestly.

Look, I’m already spoken for—and before you start, my guy isn't some med student or a doctor. Honestly? I couldn't care less about those fancy titles everyone seems to be collecting like trading cards these days. I value people based on their character and how kind they actually are—which, let's face it, is a pretty rare commodity lately—rather than what's printed on a diploma. 😉

I once met a doctor who was actually decent—truly competent—so I foolishly assumed they were all cut from the same cloth. Just to clear the air here: I don’t have some weird doctor fetish, regardless of what anyone might want to think. At least, I don't fall into that category of pathological fetishists.

To get back to the point—as one particularly sharp individual once pointed out—medical students are basically conditioned from day one to believe they’re some kind of superior species. It’s baked right into the curriculum. You see it all the time with certain doctors who are way too preoccupied with their own status; they won't even look at a patient if they don't think there's a profit in it. If you're just a kid with a brain tumor and no insurance, or some poor soul who can't afford the premium tier, they’ll look the other way. And don't even get me started on the lack of professional courtesy—you have plenty of them who are completely uncollegial, refusing to lend a hand to a peer during a test or a rotation just because they can. It's pathetic, really.

Look, at the end of the day—and I really mean this—every single profession has its fair share of problematic individuals. I wasn't trying to paint everyone with the same brush or make some sweeping generalization here.

I know this one GP—a general practitioner I occasionally drop in on when I need a prescription or something similar. He’s a perfectly decent guy—calm, kind, actually pretty funny once you get him talking. He splits his time between two very different worlds. One is this remote clinic way out in the middle of nowhere—think rural Montana or some isolated patch of the Ozarks—where he treats elderly patients and folks with disabilities. Honestly, it seems like a massive sacrifice given how desolate that area is. His other practice, though, is right here in the heart of the city.

Taylor Patel6 said:It’s honestly mind-boggling—one minute you’re grinding through years of medical school, pulling all-nighters, and basically sacrificing your entire youth to get that degree, and the next? You realize a freshly minted doctor is pulling in less than my hairstylist—and if I’m remembering correctly, even less than your average sanitation worker. It just doesn't add up. 🤔

👎👎👎

We could probably justify opening up an entirely new thread here—something along the lines of, "Why is there always this constant need to degrade cleaning crews?" ☕ Well, I suppose that’s just part of the job—nothing more, nothing less.
They need to be paid a little something too—just enough to cover their own damn messes, trash, and whatever other nonsense they leave behind. Beyond that, they’re still a family, aren't they? I mean, who else are they supposed to eat with?
And I won’t even get started on how most people look down their noses at them—it’s pathetic, really. You see these sanitation workers out there, and you realize some of them actually have college degrees just to spend their days cleaning up after kids in public schools. It’s a strange reality, isn't it?

And where exactly are you getting the idea that doctors have low salaries nowadays? What an absolute load of nonsense!