How Doctors Use Fear

I had not intended to do this blog, but one of the diabetes forums had a discussion about doctors and specialists using fear with children. One poster was very angry about the need to change doctors and will not take her child back to see the specialist.

Another poster was in agreement and said that he had taken his son to three different doctors and was still searching for one that would not use fear. He made the statement that - “people...small or adult...respond much better with positive reinforcement.”

It was fairly well established that too many of the specialists used fear to get the patients to follow their orders, but that only caused them to find new doctors or specialists. Most of the responders had gone through three or more doctors and in general were trying to avoid specialists when at all possible.

He also stated “The ego of some specialists is a massive barrier to patient education ... unfortunately I think that the more specialized they are, they can become more narrow in their thinking.” He went on to say “They need to focus FIRST on the child (patient), then the disease.”

I agree very much with the poster's last statement as too many doctors are concerned only with the disease and what they can do to get the patient to follow orders. Little thought is put into any education which could develop positive reinforcement and a patient that wanted to do what was right because it is the best thing to do, both for the patient and the doctor.

How can anyone strive for any goal without hope? Doctors all need some continuing education about giving patients hope and how to use positive reinforcement along with education to help the patient.

While this post is not about insulin per se, it is the fear that doctors try to instill in people that irritates most patients. What those doctors do not realize is that they are losing patients with their attitudes and use of fear. Or they know that they are losing patients and figure that another doctor can put up with them.

The medical profession needs to revise their approach and leave fear out of medicine and replace it with positive approaches and patient education. Will this require more time – yes, but these patients will allow more time for other patients in the future and will be much better patients. Otherwise, in the future, some of these doctors may find themselves without practices.