Mary Souza: "Wow, I am amazed that there have been no positive stories here about the doctors that have HELPED people, which would be an overwhelming percentage of the time, but instead we've heard only about the exceptions to the norm. I was a critical care nurse and nursing instructor, so I have seen the good and the bad of it, but doctors take on the incredible task of treating the human body--no two are exactly alike and people bring all their social, emotional problems as well. ("No, doctor, I don't smoke anymore", or "I only have an occasional drink" or "No, my boyfriend didn't hit me, I fell down the stairs"...) The bottom line is that we are all responsible for our own health and doctors are people too, with their own set of strengths and problems. We have to stand up, ask lots of questions, ask even more questions, expect good service and respect the complexity and frailties of the human body."

DFO: Well said, Mary; I have a great doctor now, Bob McFarland, whom I'll have to leave soon because the SR switched insurance companies, and some of us in CDA have been left out in the cold. The quack that misdiagnosed my wife is on the list of new doctors who accept the new insurance. I might stick with McFarland anyway on a pay-as-you-go basis since I have a flex plan.

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