How the “God Complex” Proliferated
Most western Doctors have a definite sense of infallibility — it even has a name —the ‘God Complex’.
Am I the only one who wonders, what could possibly occur in an individual’s life that gives them the inalienable correctness?
It can’t be 20-odd years of education, other professionals rack-up that level of educational experience without receiving the mantel of ‘everlasting rightness’.
Is there some mysterious ceremony in which Medical students participate shortly before being administered the Hippocratic oath?
Do the medical acolytes gather before the Hospital’s Chief of Staff and reverently come forward to be accepted into the Brotherhood of Infallibility – an apostolic succession unbroken since the patriarchy wrested healing arts from the dying hands of the traditional healers and midwives?
I ask these questions because I just can’t understand how intelligent, competent, women complacently comply with their doctor’s decrees while in some sort of self-induced, trance of trust.
Doctors are people just like us. They have good days and bad days. They have mortgages, student loans, business start-up and operational costs. Doctor’s kids may drive them to distraction and they may have ‘intense differences’ to discuss with their spouse as soon as they get home. Add to that, the HMO folks have just reduced their target patient face time from 10 to 6-minutes and are refusing to cover certain diagnostic tests. I honestly believe most doctors are men and women who are just doing their best to ‘do no harm’; but they are just folks doing a job. They can and do make mistakes; they can and do miss important clues to the solving the mystery of your wellness.
You Are the Goddess In Charge of Your Body
You need to HELP the Doctor HELP you. Keep your own records. I keep a binder of my complete medical record — including current and past medications, allergies, past surgeries, injuries, blood work, mammogram and pap-smear reports etc.
Keep track of your menstrual cycle as it relates to your symptoms. Don’t buy into a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Try improving your diet, get more sleep and exercise before you hit up ‘Doctor Drug Pusher for the magic-get-me-healthy-bullet’.
Not every symptom a woman experiences is a “Female” problem. Unfortunately, the medical community is more likely to order a complete blood panel for a man presenting with the same symptoms as a women. Incomplete testing procedures are why women are more likely to suffer undiagnosed thyroid and other endocrine system issues than men. HMOs still offer “performance” bonuses to Doctors who keep their “Testing Costs” down.
Before I take a ‘sample’ or fill a prescription, I go to the FDA site and look up the reported data on the medication. As a matter of course, I do not take any “NEW” meds. I want the drug that has been out for 5-years or more and has a complete reported history of possible damaging side effects. It is disconcerting to view a Special Senate Hearing convened to discuss the unexpected consequences of the drug you just downed before supper.
Get a second, even a third or forth opinion about any procedure or treatment.
It is your body. You get to choose what goes into, on it, or to it — not your over-worked financially pressured doctor. Doctors make mistakes. God knows the FDA makes mistakes. Your insurance company is NOT YOUR ADVOCATE and the Pharma-Industrial complex sees your body as a profit center.
You are responsive for your body — not your Doctor, Bless his or her heart.
Inconvenient Women, take action! We are not acted upon.
