Michelle, this is precisely my point. I do not meant to imply that doctors are, bu nature or by class, "uncaring". No, they are just people, which is to say, in terms of morality, nobility, empathy, and all the other supposed virtues, they run the gamut--just like the rest of us. Likewise, with "vices". But the fact is that your life is not their life; For the same reason, I did not have an architect design my house: After all the pictures, write-ups, and awards (or whatever), the architect cashes the check, retires to his own deck and moves on to the next project. But I actually have to live in the place. Your doctor sees hundreds or even thousads of patients a year. Of course their brains become mush, when it comes to fine details! How could it be otherwise? It is true, of course, that emergencies can focus everyone's mind. But my own strategy for getting the doctor's full, and perhaps lasting attention, is to 1) get him and keep him off-script, and 2) Bridge the knowledge gap as much s possible. That means studying hard, becoming aware or industry trends that the doctor is not aware of (I read more journal articles than Drac does--a fact that he no longer resents!). It also means endlessly studying those dots for alternate interpretations.
Al
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