How important is it to personally like your Doctor?

[Doctor Amadeus]

How important is it to personally like your doctor (Family, or General Practitioner)?


Ever had a problem with a doctor or decided to see someone else, what are some of the factors you consider when choosing a Doctor?


I am going to say a lot because my trust is directly tied to my trust, they really are all in one. I will pick someone more qualified over all, I can at least trust if they are the best at what they do.

[Freighter]

Very important. I'd never allow someone I don't like to do physical examinations.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Very important. I'd never allow someone I don't like to do physical examinations.

What about over someone you view as more qualified or has more experience, would that take a back seat?

[Farrarie]

the only important thing is qualification

[WskyDK]

The other night at work I had a patient fire another nurse, and request me.

This is not uncommon.

[Puupi]

I don't have a "my doctor". Not much of a thing here excluding dentists and gynecologists.

[Sunseeker]

"Personally like" I think is easy when it comes to a doctor since there's only two real issues that matter: Medical skill and bedside manner. I'm not looking for a suckup, but someone who is at least personable when handling sensitive medical issues is basically a requirement. (I've been to Indian doctors with no bedside manner and seriously, fuck them.)

[Raeph]

In the case of a primary physician, affinity leads to trust. If you trust your healthcare worker then you will be more likely to follow their advice.

Granted though in an emergent situation qualified and skillful beats affinity.

So I guess it depends on the situation.

[Malacrass]

When I was litte / teen the only reason I had to visit the doctor (general practitioner) was to get a sick certificate for school. That's basically what our "family doctors" here are for in Germany. So it did matter to me how the doctor acted in that department. When I needed one or two extra days before an exam I had to make sure my doc is on board, if you know what I mean.

That said, the moment I left school was the moment I didn't need my doctor anymore. Today the doctors I have to visit are specialists, like oculists or otorhinolaryngologists (throat, nose, ear), and in that department I don't give a damn if they are foreign, arrogant, aloof or just an asshole. What I need is qualification in their field, nothing more nothing less.

[Anastacy]

I don't need to like my doctor.

I need to feel as though he/she is competent in their field.

[Malacrass]

(I've been to Indian doctors with no bedside manner and seriously, fuck them.)

You've got some examples?

I can't think of anything a doctor could do to irritate me outside of revealing incompetence on his/her field. Like, most don't even have the time to act froggy or inappropriate. In and out, sometimes in less than 5 minutes.

[Crissi]

Depends on the type. Most, skill / qualifications matter more. However, Pediatricians and gynecologists I generally prefer likability just as much. Like, my gyno retired last year and now Im having a hell of a time finding one I like and trust.

Dentist, likability actually becomes slightly more important due to my fear of being judged. Luckily I have the perfect one.

[I Push Buttons]

For a GP, I would say very important, for anything else, not at all.

Like if I am seeing a doctor/surgeon once or twice for some particular thing, I just care about qualifications, but I expect more with regard to a long term GP... Like when I was a kid I saw the same GP from when I was like 3 until I was 16 or something, he really knew everyone in our family and we all liked him, I would probably still have him as my GP if he didn't retire... That is important to me.

[Sunseeker]

You've got some examples?

I can't think of anything a doctor could do to irritate me outside of revealing incompetence on his/her field. Like, most don't even have the time to act froggy or inappropriate. In and out, sometimes in less than 5 minutes.

Everyone in his office (which was 100% Indian) was generally curt, unfriendly and generally rude. You know the song "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down"? there was seriously no sugar, just medicine. It really does go a long way.

[Malacrass]

However, Pediatricians....

Huh, that's actually a great point. I don't care about likability at all, but I guess the moment it's about my child it suddenly starts to matter. Wouldn't want that my kid has negative experiences in that area.

[Mekkle]

As long as he/she is not obnoxious and/or annoying I'm pretty ok with whatever else, wish they would stop coddling me when diagnosing, I feel better the more blunt the answer.

[Taso]

I'm neutral on doctors. As long as they are highly qualified it doesn't bother me. The only time it would bother me is if the doctor says why are you sick then I'm like why do you think I'm here.<--- pun intended.

[EnclosedOne]

Qualification is important of course but it's also very important that you find a GP you like because then you can have comfortable dialogue with them and find the appropriate solution to whatever problem you may have.

At the place i was at before the service was absolutely horrible. my appointments kept getting bumped at the last moment and then when I did finally get in to see someone (never the same fucking person either) they were shit doctors who didn't care whatsoever about me as a patient and only getting maybe 5-10 minutes with them was not enough to explain my issues/find a solution to them. I recently switched to a new place and got a new GP and she is wonderful and I even hear a lot of good things about her from other people too. To feel like your doctor even give 1 iota about you makes a huge difference

[Doctor Amadeus]

Qualification is important of course but it's also very important that you find a GP you like because then you can have comfortable dialogue with them and find the appropriate solution to whatever problem you may have.

At the place i was at before the service was absolutely horrible. my appointments kept getting bumped at the last moment and then when I did finally get in to see someone (never the same fucking person either) they were shit doctors who didn't care whatsoever about me as a patient and only getting maybe 5-10 minutes with them was not enough to explain my issues/find a solution to them. I recently switched to a new place and got a new GP and she is wonderful and I even hear a lot of good things about her from other people too. To feel like your doctor even give 1 iota about you makes a huge difference

Yeah, I have always considered weighting when ever I've ever had a need.

[rayden54]

It's complicated. I really only don't like one doctor. And that's because I think he's incompetent.

He was my mom's doctor when she got cancer. She had symptoms straight out of a House episode. Took the specialists months to diagnose. After they did, he told my dad he thought it might've been cancer, but didn't think it was his place to say anything. Thing is, it took them so long to figure out what it was that there wasn't anything they could do about it. So, either the sonofabitch was lying or he's one of the reasons my mom's dead. I despise him.