by Vicki Brown

Created on: February 25, 2008   Last Updated: September 15, 2008

Can anyone be fully trusted? Doctors are humans like the rest of us. Some are better than others and I find it hard to judge them as a whole. I have a complex misunderstood illness. It is essential that I have a doctor who is willing to work with me. Over time they earn my trust just like other professionals do.

I've worked in hospitals and I've been a patient, and found more doctors that I would trust than those I wouldn't. We expect more from a doctor because we are putting our lives in their hands. The younger doctors today have less of a God-complex than those who are retiring. The relationship between a doctor and a patient should be one of mutual trust. While you are putting your life in their hands, they are putting their reputation on the line. They genuinely want to help you.

This is especially true of your primary care physician. This is the doctor you will see about everything from colds to knee pain to skin problems. There has to be a high level of trust between the you and your doctor. But, the onus is on you to be truthful with your doctor. Especially when it comes to the medications you are taking. Doctors aren't mind readers. If you are seeing a doctor about stomach problems, you can't leave out medication you are taking for another condition.

When you go to a specialist, it is the patients responsibility to find out about their doctor. As a rule, doctors who practice medicine in a facility that is allied with a medical school are the best of the best. The AMA keeps a tight rein on medical schools. They determine who can have a medical school and have a good oversight program in place.

You can also do your own research and check out your doctor on line. Where did he/she go to medical school? How long as he/she been practicing? Has she/he ever been sanctioned or disciplined in any way? If you're having surgery, you want to find out how many times the doctor has done this procedure.

Ask questions when you talk to the doctor. If they won't answer your questions, be suspicious. Ask why they won't answer your questions. If they still won't answer find out who you can talk to about a physician. There is a Patient Bill of Rights and you have the right to know about your doctor.

But, for me, the bottom line is can we work as a team. I don't want to be patted on the head and told what's good for me. I want a doctor who has enough confidence in himself that he/she won't mind my questions. I've had a lot of doctors the last ten years and I've only run into one that I knew was not going to be a good fit for me.

Doctors are like anyone else. There are good ones, there are great ones, and there are some who are just so-so. You, as the patient, have to decide if you can trust a particular doctor. If you can't, ask for another one. It's your right as a patient to do so.

Speak up if you think you aren't getting the whole picture or if you just don't like a doctor. I had major surgery recently and I checked the surgeon out online. When I met him, I had the whole picture. I knew he was very qualified and I liked him. He laid out all my options but made it very clear that the final decision was mine.

I felt confident that I made the right choice for me and he supported me 100%. I put my life in his hands and went into the OR at peace that the outcome would be good. And it was.

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