Some of those patients take to the popular r/mildlyinfuriating online group to vent their frustrations. Today, our team at Bored Panda is featuring stories that prove that many health professionals still have a long way to go when it comes to their behavior. Scroll down to check them out.
#1 Doctor’s Office Turned Away My Dad For Arriving At 9:50 For His 10:00 Appointment
#2 Got This In The Mail Recently. Charged Interest On 0$ By Doctors Office. Then Sent To Collection Over 6 Years Later Without Ever Once Being Contacted By Said Office
#3 Doctor's Office Left A Message Cancelling My Appointment With 1 Hour's Notice; The Next Day I Made An Online Request For A Prescription Renewal (Which I'd Planned To Do During The Visit); They Wouldn't Send It In Because I Hadn't Seen The Doctor Recently Enough
The r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit is very widely known around the internet. Currently, it has around 7.8 million members, who share stories about being slightly inconvenienced in various situations.
For some folks, their interactions with their doctors left such a bad taste in their mouths that they wanted to call out their less-than-exemplary behavior.
#5 My Dr Thinks He Is Dr House
#6 This Doctors Office Has A Window Behind The Bench And Claims The Blinds Don’t Close. My Sibling Had To Strip Down In Front Of A Parking Lot
Ideally, we’d want every doctor to have good communication and leadership skills. But the reality is that not everyone has them. Some medical professionals simply don’t have enough experience interacting with their patients. Others might simply have low emotional intelligence or lack empathy.
Still, other doctors might not see the point in being kind or genuinely caring about their patients.
#7 This Endless Automated Text Loop Trying To Cancel An Upcoming Doctor Appointment For My Dad Who Died Yesterday
#8 Whats The Point Of Making An Appointment To See A Doctor But Still Waiting 1 Hour Later
#9 Sitting In The Doctors Office At 2:10 Listening To Him Bullsh*t About His Weekend In The Room Next To Me When My Appointment Was At 1:30
It can’t be understated how much empathy and proper communication can help patients. They’re naturally worried about their health, procedures, treatments, surgeries, and futures.
They’re anxious. They’re scared. In these situations, many people need emotional support. So, how a doctor delivers a diagnosis or phrases things becomes just as important—if not more so—than the actual information they’re delivering.
#10 Got Charged 9k For Doctor To Tell Me It Was Just Period Cramps, And After Going To Another Doctor It Was A Ruptured Ovarian Cyst
#11 This Exposed Outlet In The Children's Area Of The Doctors Waiting Room
Take a moment to imagine a physician who bluntly tells their patient that they might have a horrendous disease versus one who gently explains what’s happening, explains all the options available, and provides them with realistic hope.
The news will come as a shock either way, but in the latter case, the patient might be left with more determination and a feeling that their doctor will have their back, come hell or high water. A touch of empathy can be the difference between hope and devastation.
#13 I’ve Been Sitting In The Waiting Room Of This Doctors Office For Over An Hour And This Painting Is Really Pissing Me Off
#14 Doctor Requires You To Be 1 Hour Early For 5 Minutes Of Paperwork, Only To Be Running 2.5 Hours Behind. Why Is This Acceptable?
According to Michigan Instruments, the foundation of any successful relationship between doctors and their patients is made up of trust. A professional who is empathetic, genuinely cares about their patients, and actively listens to them is going to build that trust.
Meanwhile, someone who is completely detached from their patients won’t inspire much trust at all. In the former case, patients are more likely to follow through with their treatment plans and medical advice.
#16 Miss A Call From The Doctors, Call Back And Told I Will Receive A Letter And Follow The Instructions. 6 Days Later Get The Letter Telling Me I Missed A Call From Them And To Call Back
#17 Doctor Decides Tell Me That My Beneficial New Supplement Was Just The Placebo Effect
To put it simply, patients who know their doctors care about them and their welfare are more likely to listen to what they tell them they should do.
They’ll be more likely to follow through with any medication regimens and attend follow-up appointments. They’ll actually listen when their physicians tell them to eat better and move more, which should prevent some health problems in the future.
