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Are Medics arrogant

I have been undergoing treatment on the NHS, and I have found over the years (its been 5 years), that medics are the most arrogant bunch of people ever.

You get the odd nice one, but for the most part many of the senior consultants seem to be very still faced, less smiley and very unapproachable. Before undergoing treatment for example, I ran into problems with a senior consultant, where, in order to get treatment started I had to basically get my local MP involved. It brought her back down to earth, and as a result treatment started.

As a patent, I just take it, as afterall they are treating me, but for the most part it is very annoying.

I am not a medicine student, but it would be interesting to hear if there is an arrogant culture within this field from those that have done placements in the field.

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Original post by fat_hobbit
I have been undergoing treatment on the NHS, and I have found over the years (its been 5 years), that medics are the most arrogant bunch of people ever.

You get the odd nice one, but for the most part many of the senior consultants seem to be very still faced, less smiley and very unapproachable. Before undergoing treatment for example, I ran into problems with a senior consultant, where, in order to get treatment started I had to basically get my local MP involved. It brought her back down to earth, and as a result treatment started.

As a patent, I just take it, as afterall they are treating me, but for the most part it is very annoying.

I am not a medicine student, but it would be interesting to hear if there is an arrogant culture within this field from those that have done placements in the field.


Don't let one bad experience put you off. To get into medical school now you need work experience to make sure the job is right for you and voluntary work to show your commitment, which requires you to go the extra mile with people. If you're not the right kind of person you'll never past the interview unless you're an amazing actor. But I guess you are going to get arrogant doctors because it's a very competitive field that only the most academically able people can do and if I ever do manage to get into medical school I'm sure my head will inflate a bit, because after all it's a huge achievement.

Why am I getting negged? For saying I'd be excited if I got an offer?
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 2
Avatar for -Simon-
-Simon-
13
Some are....but I am unsure whether it is more than in any other well respected degree.

I would say it is probably (mainly) due to the idea of a God complex, difficulty getting in to medicine and beyond that further competition specialising that allows for people to believe they are special and deserve to be considered superior. However, I would suggest this is very much the minority of people I have met who are studying/practicing medicine.

I would say people are often arrogant, whole professions won't be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THNPmhBl-8I
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by limetang
Yes. But the fact is that you need a doctor with some degree of arrogance. They can't afford to doubt their abilities. They need to be 100% sure that they can do the procedure they're heading out to do. And ego is part and parcel of this.

Arrogance and confidence are completely different things. Confidence means you feel comfortable trusting your decisions because you believe them to be accurate recollections of your training in a circumstance. Arrogance means you believe in your decisions because they are yours, not because of their validity. This means that you don't take advice or criticism, and it's what is meant to be beaten out of you in medical school. Please do not mix the two up. It's dangerous. Arrogance is not professional.

The majority of arrogant doctors are consultants because the old guard didn't train you out of it or consider arrogance in the selection process. Medicine is no longer an old boys club, and we're trained to know our limitations and to work within a team. My experience is that arrogant doctors are slated by the entire team who don't want to work with a liability who will go out on a limb to prove they're right and let the patient, and the rest of the team, suffer. The reality is that nobody is ever good enough in medicine to be right every time- there're just too many variables to consider. We know that now.
Reply 4
Avatar for Dislocator
Dislocator
Admission process now should make this a lot more uncommon occurrence in the future.
Reply 5
Avatar for Doctor.
Doctor.
12
Original post by Chiko 1001
The reality is that nobody is ever good enough in medicine to be right every time- there're just too many variables to consider. We know that now.
other than Dr. Coxx from scrubs ofcoure :colonhash:
From my experience a lot of doctors can seem cold but if you approach them, they can be incredibly helpful and friendly. Today I went and asked a professor of surgery where I work if I could shadow him for a day or two. Previous to this I'd thought him a really horrible person (from stories I'd heard) and I was shaking approaching him haha, but he was incredibly helpful and quite friendly. I don't think first impressions count for anywhere near as much as people think, in a nutshell. There's more to people than that!
Reply 7
Avatar for TillyOB
TillyOB
I had the most arrogant F1 discharge me from hospital a few months ago, she treated me like I was a two year old and a far lesser human being than her. She had to take bloods and I made it rather difficult, being "so, so scared of needles". 20 minutes later she eventually did it, I smiled sweetly and said thank you very much. She wasn't happy and hopefully, will behave with slightly less arrogance in future.

On the other hand, some are fantastic and there are lots of doctors and medics out there who don't come across as arrogant in the slightest. Although I think it takes a lot of self belief and confidence to get in and sometimes that gets mixed in with arrogance.
Original post by Hippokrates
Don't let one bad experience put you off. To get into medical school now you need work experience to make sure the job is right for you and voluntary work to show your commitment, which requires you to go the extra mile with people. If you're not the right kind of person you'll never past the interview unless you're an amazing actor. But I guess you are going to get arrogant doctors because it's a very competitive field that only the most academically able people can do and if I ever do manage to get into medical school I'm sure my head will inflate a bit, because after all it's a huge achievement.

Why am I getting negged? For saying I'd be excited if I got an offer?


For talking about med school applications when the OP is complaining about his experiences as a patient...
Yes, they are, undeservedly so.
Reply 10
Avatar for fatal
fatal
12
Original post by fat_hobbit
I have been undergoing treatment on the NHS, and I have found over the years (its been 5 years), that medics are the most arrogant bunch of people ever.

You get the odd nice one, but for the most part many of the senior consultants seem to be very still faced, less smiley and very unapproachable. Before undergoing treatment for example, I ran into problems with a senior consultant, where, in order to get treatment started I had to basically get my local MP involved. It brought her back down to earth, and as a result treatment started.

As a patent, I just take it, as afterall they are treating me, but for the most part it is very annoying.

I am not a medicine student, but it would be interesting to hear if there is an arrogant culture within this field from those that have done placements in the field.


Hi,

I sympathize with you. As a medical student on placement in various hospitals, the majority of the time I have encountered very rude doctors and nurses. The difficulty is that we can't answer back, they like to say that we can let someone know if we need support but if a medical student tries to call up a consultant then we would get massacred. In the past when I have had troubles with the most awful consultant my med school said 'She really really shouldnt have done that, but I suppose its too late to do anything now...'

If you feel they are being rude just endeavor to act like a human being when you speak to any one else in your life! Pass on the cheeriness :smile:
Reply 11
Avatar for fatal
fatal
12
Original post by limetang
Yes. But the fact is that you need a doctor with some degree of arrogance. They can't afford to doubt their abilities. They need to be 100% sure that they can do the procedure they're heading out to do. And ego is part and parcel of this.


Confidence is different from arrogance, I certainly respect the doctors who have an air of humility and kindness much more.
Reply 12
Avatar for *Nasir*
*Nasir*
Maybe doctors get tired, I mean after all, they are the ones who have to listen to complaints and so are expected to give positive outcomes.

But it is still annoying...
Original post by Witty Username
For talking about med school applications when the OP is complaining about his experiences as a patient...


Oh that's okay then I'd rather be stupid than mean :smile:
Original post by fat_hobbit
I have been undergoing treatment on the NHS, and I have found over the years (its been 5 years), that medics are the most arrogant bunch of people ever.
 -generalisation much?
You get the odd nice one, but for the most part many of the senior consultants seem to be very still faced, less smiley and very unapproachable. Before undergoing treatment for example, I ran into problems with a senior consultant, where, in order to get treatment started I had to basically get my local MP involved. It brought her back down to earth, and as a result treatment started.

As a patent, patientI just take it, as afterall they are treating me, but for the most part it is very annoying.

I am not a medicine medical student, but it would be interesting to hear if there is an arrogant culture within this field from those that have done placements in the field.




I find that some yes are, but not all. I think you just have had a bad experience with the ones you've been to. Also on work experience the nurses warned me the senior nurse was a very stroppy and abit arrogant, but he did his job VERY well and was good at his job so I guess it worked out in some way and I respected him for it.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Dislocator
Admission process now should make this a lot more uncommon occurrence in the future.


:rofl:
listen to complaints... give positive outcomes...

sounds awful... just like having a job!
Reply 17
Avatar for *Nasir*
*Nasir*
Original post by a.partridge
listen to complaints... give positive outcomes...

sounds awful... just like having a job!


do you ever go to doctor when there is nothing wrong with you?

btw it is a job, medics have to put up with it, no matter how awful it is :rolleyes:
Original post by *Nasir*
do you ever go to doctor when there is nothing wrong with you?

btw it is a job, medics have to put up with it, no matter how awful it is :rolleyes:



isn't that a bit like becoming a lawyer and complaining that all your clients are getting sued and you have to do something about it?

you can't be pissy about doing stuff when it's your job
Original post by *Nasir*
Maybe doctors get tired, I mean after all, they are the ones who have to listen to complaints and so are expected to give positive outcomes.

But it is still annoying...


If I was having a HIV test, I'd rather not get a "positive outcome"


yeh, not my finest work...

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