How to Deal With Bad Doctors

The easiest answer on how to deal with a bad doctor is to find a good one. However, that may not be the best option. For instance, if you suffer from a rare gastroenterological condition, a rude but knowledgeable specialist with 20 years experience in the field may provide better treatment than a novice with a more pleasant bedside manner. More important, sometimes an encounter with a "bad doctor" may be the result of poor communication. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) notes in its 1999 study "Soliciting the Patients' Agenda: Have We Improved," that 72 percent of physicians interrupted the patient's opening statement within 23 seconds. Try to build bridges with a difficult doctor before looking for a replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Medical notes
• Phone

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Instructions

• 1

  Write a complete list of your medical problems, symptoms and conditions. Doctors are busy. They usually have a stressful job with a full caseload. In order to get the treatment you want, detail your problems briefly and articulately. Document everything. If you complain of different things on different occasions, the doctor may not be able to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together to make a proper diagnosis. With a complete list, both of you will have a more productive and satisfying experience.

• 2

  Respond proactively to any perceived arrogance on the part of a bad doctor. Do not be intimidated if he or she claims to know more about your condition than you do. The interrogative method is often a good way to disarm an egotistical personality. Ask lots of questions about your condition in the third person and then explain how the answers apply to your situation.

• 3

  Maintain an open line of communication with the doctor after an appointment. You may not need to schedule an additional appointment. Rather, leave a message with his answering service that explains a new development or an important fact that you forgot to mention during the previous meeting. Do not demand that the receptionist put the doctor on the phone. He or she may be handling an emergency case and will not be in a position to give you an answer. If the doctor does not call back, call again in two days. Repeat your calls every two days until you get a satisfactory answer.

• 4

  Report the doctor to a higher authority. In a hospital, this person may be a department head or a board director. For a private practice, contact your state medical licensing board to file a complaint. Also, reach out to the state health department and the Better Business Bureau if you do not get a satisfactory response from these organizations. However, do not make a formal complaint unless the doctor has engaged in egregious misconduct. If the act constitutes negligence or malpractice, consider a consultation with an attorney. Also, bear in mind that a complaint will destroy any possibility of a workable relationship with your physician, so be prepared to find another doctor.