When I was a youngster, the doctor still was G-d. He (and it was almost always a he) was the expert and you knew nothing. That was especially true ’cause the “you” were usually females (macho men almost never needed the doctor) and since Women’s Lib was first taking hold, female patients obviously couldn’t ask an intelligent question. (I’m being sarcastic of course.)
For as far back as I can remember, I was asking the doctor questions. Living with a chronic condition since age 3, I was asking simple things by age 6 or 7 like:
“What is this?”
“Why am I taking this?”
“Why aren’t I feeling well (or any better)?”
All I ever got was a pat on the head and this answer, “There, there, sweetheart, don’t worry about it.”
I didn’t like that answer, even at age 7. And I kept pushing. And my Mother, who was even more intimidated by a doctor, was mortally embarrassed that I would question him.
If you think this changed as I got older, it didn’t. I didn’t care. I was asking questions, yes, but I wasn’t belligerent. I was polite, my questions were straightforward…I was just refusing to be patronized.
And that’s all it takes for anyone: male or female, whether or not English is your native language, your level of education, or if the U.S. is your original home. Don’t be afraid of the doctor! It is his/her job to take care of you.
No comments:
Post a Comment