What is it, -about doctors?

Question

There are good doctors and bad doctors, just like any other work. But what IS it about doctors that makes then react to criticism as if their sperm-count or virility or penis-size was being questioned?

Answer 1

Doctors are very intelligent and well informed professionals of high quality.
Patients who suggest a diagnosis and dictate a prescription should not expect extreme politeness from doctors.
Medical service even on payment is not like a piece of furniture where the buyer decides anything.

Answer 2

Doctors are under so much pressure to be right all the time. Especially in this age of frivolous medical lawsuits, the consequence of the smallest flaw could be catastrophic. But as human beings, they are guaranteed from the beginning to have shortcomings.

If I were a doctor, I think the only way I could get over the pressure would be to convince myself that I really could be right 100% of the time, and so I wouldn't react well to criticism. Maybe some doctors feel the same way.

Answer 3

I don't think doctors have a monopoly in reacting poorly to criticism. Also, I don't think its a good generalization.
There is constructive criticism from which we can learn. And there is destructive criticism. The only purpose is to make the person doing the criticizing feel better.

Answer 4

It's the lawyers that make us nervous.

Within our own circles, we actually get together and discuss cases that went wrong, and offer critiques and suggestions (that's called M&M - morbidity and mortality - conference).

We also look to our colleagues for assistance and input on difficult situations.

You guys just don't get to see that!

Taking criticism from an uneducated person with an opinion but no foundation of knowledge upon which to base that opinion can be a little hard to stomach.