BARBARA LEWIS

February 10, 2003

THE MD BUBBLE OF TRUST

Too many Americans stuck on Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, and Marcus Welby?

By Barbara Lewis

Why do people still have so much faith in doctors? Ever wonder about that?

This question came to mind when I happened upon the results of a recent Harris Poll. It found that a whopping 76% of the 1011 people questioned said they felt doctors had very great prestige!

Given all we know these days about the greed and corruption that consumes the medical industry, the result of the poll is a little unnerving.

What is it that props up this bubble of trust when there is so much work to be done to clean up the image of medicine?

The most recent, public example of a big mistake is the case of Mexican-born, Jésica Santillán, who died at Duke University Hospital last week after being given a heart and lung transplant with the wrong blood type. The hospital blamed the tragedy on human error and a lack of safeguards at the hospital. You can bet that the PR troops will try to win back the hospital’s strong image.

A high-profile story of human error, the Santillán case is but one but of many horror stories we hear about daily in newspapers and on television. Stories that tell of doctors found in conflict of interest, doctors obviously putting greed before the well-being of their patients, managed care rewarding physicians who limit services to their patients, medical researchers jeopardizing patient safety for financial gain, physicians who are in league with the drug industry. The list can go on...

And still the majority of Americans feel that the profession is highly prestigious. Is it simple blindness to reality? Or could it be that they are deeply ingrained with the notion that doctors are mostly great spirits in search of ways to make us well?

Here’s an exercise.

When you think about the "Ideal  Doctor," who comes to mind? Is it your own doctor? Or is it perhaps a physician from a movie, or long-running television series?

What about Dr. Marcus Welby, MD? I remember him pretty well.

So will many others recall the compassionate Dr. Welby played by the actor, Robert Young during the 1970s. A physician beyond reproach, many of us learned to love and trust the medical profession from this gentle man. No conflicts of interest here.

When Robert Young announced that he himself suffered from alcoholism and depression, his adoring public would not believe him. He played the trustworthy doctor that well.

Going back to the 60s, we find another wonderful physician, Dr. Kildare, who was played by actor, Richard Chamberlain. Not only was the young intern dedicated, trustworthy and smart, he also looked good while he cured his patients.

Today’s television shows give us the grittier side of a doctor’s life, but many of these physicians appear no less noble or worthy of our admiration and trust.

What other possible reasons contribute to this willingness to put doctors on a pedestal?

How about blow-hard status-seeking? You know what I mean. Those often wealthy individuals, who enjoy proclaiming loudly that they have the "best surgeon" performing their surgery, or that they are traveling to the "most" prestigious clinic for the annual check-up.

Their feelings about doctors are sometimes tied up with keeping up appearances, not necessarily with the real value of their health care.

People who are not as financially fit must make do with a local doctor - who may or may not be among the "best."  Lacking the heavy clout of big money, these patients are easily intimidated by a doctor’s arrogance. Easier to hold him/her in awe than to challenge a defensive attitude. That’s called the "halo effect."

And what about all the ads that show doctors (actors dressed as doctors) advocating this formula, those services or that drug. Calming, authoritative music often underscores the crucial trustworthiness of these spokespersons.  

And then there are the real doctors-turned-correspondents who populate network television. They, too, give off the aura of being in-the-know on a myriad of health issues. The latest magic bullet pill! The greatest breakthrough! Time often proves them to be wrong.

It’s a mine-field out there for those of us who are hoping to recognize a good doctor. We all are sick at one time or another, so the criteria that underlies our opinions and choices bears some thinking about.

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., former President of the Association of American Medical Colleges (2002) has his own take on why we trust doctors. He writes; "Recognizing that people are by nature inherently vulnerable when seeking medical care, their need to trust their doctor’s good intentions is virtually instinctive. "

Instinct, perhaps - aided by the power of modern image-creating media. And sometimes the sheer physical effort of keeping abreast of medical knowledge keeps us from even trying to evaluate a doctor.

Easier to calm our jangled nerves with hearsay -  "They say she’s a great doctor!" than to seek the more illusive truth.  

Jordan Cohen also offered a few good reasons why the trust was no longer deserved ...  "...medicine is still plagued.... by individuals whose greed, arrogance, abuse of power, misrepresentation, lack of conscientiousness, or undisclosed conflicts of interest undermine our professed values. "

That about puts it all in perspective for me.

*VISIT BARBARA LEWIS’ OWN WEBSITE, ALL ABOUT SINGERS.COM