That would be the WHOLE point of a FORUM. To allow, through argumentation, the dissemination of information from the "learned expert" to the poor, unwashed minds of the masses. I feel so blessed when I can feel the warm sunlight of knowledge emanating from our own "learned experts" - and caressing my brain cells and adding new meaning to my life! I feel so blessed!

And in SOME (?) cases the Google search would lead to better medical advice. Many Family-type Physicians are time-limited to the extent their one-year or 6-month appointment does NOT adequately meet a patient's needs for information. So a thoughtful patient needs to use Google to research their own medical issues so that they can BETTER communicate with medical professionals. Our recent Pandemic showed the need to relate remotely using various media. Also, Google is up to date and many medical professionals are not.

Sure use the rare exception to make your argument... :ohdear:

and the result is:

Cute ! And in the background is a gravestone of a man that died earlier than he needed to after getting advice from his older family Doctor who said, "you won't need any additional tests". (because you have a medicare C, medicare advantage plan and they won't pay for additional tests - they wait for you to die).

Yeah, right---that's how it happens. If you think you can google something and match the expertise of a physician, you are simply delusional. Actually, let me make that 95% of physicians, there is always a quack out there.

The vast majority of physicians care.

This thread needs a DNR.

I will take exception to calling that an EXCEPTION. For years I was under for-profit healthcare. And for those years where ever I lived, Denver, Phoenix, etc, etc. There was a common thread, doctors that had to maximize the number of patients seen per day just to keep up with the bills in private practice. So common a problem that many of those doctors gave up and joined healthcare groups where they were basically employees. Then when I went in to the "doctors office" I would see which ever doctor was on rotation. I would see that doctor for precisely 15 minutes, no more no less. Because they had quotas. And those doctors typical had NO idea who I was or what my medical history was, because they had never seen me before. And while they spent maybe 10 of those 15 minutes reading my chart to see what the other doctors said, they would ask ME questions to help them understand what the other doctors meant. They almost without exception, they would ask me what I would like to do or have done.

Now that I am in the VA its is totally the opposite. Had my annual today, and the doctor chat with me, know me, discussed my history and how I was doing. Made suggestions on changes and all in all gave me a very safe feeling.

Every single person I know that is in the for profit healthcare system has had exactly the same experience as me. And in addition to that, statistic seems to support the idea, since the US has worse healthcare outcomes that almost any other first world country.

I completely agree with you. EVERY doctor I have interacted with over the past 70 years were all concerned. The all cared. Yup. BUT. many (most?) are living private practice and those that end up in groups like Shands, are basically beaten into submission. They still care, but they also have to meet quotas.

I don't think that is what he meant, I think he meant doctors are forced into curing out numbers. They care, they are experts, but they don't have the time to delve into every patients case. I completely support doctors, everyone I know is a good decent caring care giver. I feel sorry for the position they find themselves in.

Companies need to stay out of politics
 

Wake up and deal with reality.

I don't know what magical VA you went to, but every single patient I've ever seen, who's come from the VA had a completely opposite experience. NO ONE knew who they were, appointments were as rare as hen's teeth...

Asking for a friend why do hens not have teeth?

Do think this whole thread has been discussed to death and beyond

Because the Dentist was across the road...

Agreed...