How To Drive Your Doctor Crazy

Medpage Today carried an amusing piece about “Six Patient Behaviors That Drive Doctors Nuts”. I thought it worth summarizing them, just in case any of my readers think they might “fit the cap”.

1. Bringing meddling family members into the consulting room.
2. Failing to mention the herbs, supplements, and over-the-counter meds taken. This can be frustrating for doctors and dangerous for patients.
3. Quitting medications without notice. Again, can be dangerous.
4. Demanding a pill instead of a change in lifestyle. Many, many problems can be attributed to eating too much and moving too little.
5. “Hi, Doc, I need a prescription for . . .” Patients’ insistence on an unnecessary drug is physicians’ most common complaint.
6. Demanding extra tests and procedures that are medically unnecessary.

 The article contains many examples, explanations, and comments that are useful, but can’t be summarized here. It’s well worth reading, even if you think you have an excellent relationship with your family physician.