Caveat Emptor
I first encountered the Latin phrase, Caveat Emptor, during a Brady Bunch episode in which Mike Brady advised Greg about the meaning of, Let the Buyer Beware, as Greg goes off to purchase his first car.
And as timeless as this advice is, it is something many of us need to be reminded of as we choose a doctor.
As I noted in my book, What Your Doctor Won’t (or Can’t) Tell You, people seem to spend more time researching the purchase of a new car or a television set than in choosing a doctor. And time and time again when I ask patients how they got to me, some say they picked me randomly from an insurance book.
Not very long ago a patient came to see me after having seen someone whose business card read “Expert in Diabetes and Endocrinology,” and noted an affiliation with a University Hospital.
I had never heard of this doctor so I did two minutes of research on Google. He indeed claimed that he was an expert in diabetes and endocrinology, but I learned that he was not board certified in the practice of endocrinology -- something that for most would be the minimum, for anyone to suggest that they were an expert in the field. And I did find out that the doctor did have some affiliation with a top notch university hospital -- he had admitting privileges at a small community hospital that was , in fact, owned and operated by the esteemed university hospital; although I doubt that he had consultation privileges for endocrinology even in that hospital.
There is no reason, other than laziness and irresponsibility, for someone not to spend a few minutes in researching a doctor they plan to see, and to at least confirm that he or she is board certified in the field they practice in. Fancy cards, fancy signage, and fancy talk are as suited to some meretricious doctors as they are to used car salesmen.
So remember, all you Greg Bradys out there; Caveat Emptor, Let the Buyer Beware!
I first encountered the Latin phrase, Caveat Emptor, during a Brady Bunch episode in which Mike Brady advised Greg about the meaning of, Let the Buyer Beware, as Greg goes off to purchase his first car.
And as timeless as this advice is, it is something many of us need to be reminded of as we choose a doctor.
As I noted in my book, What Your Doctor Won’t (or Can’t) Tell You, people seem to spend more time researching the purchase of a new car or a television set than in choosing a doctor. And time and time again when I ask patients how they got to me, some say they picked me randomly from an insurance book.
Not very long ago a patient came to see me after having seen someone whose business card read “Expert in Diabetes and Endocrinology,” and noted an affiliation with a University Hospital.
I had never heard of this doctor so I did two minutes of research on Google. He indeed claimed that he was an expert in diabetes and endocrinology, but I learned that he was not board certified in the practice of endocrinology -- something that for most would be the minimum, for anyone to suggest that they were an expert in the field. And I did find out that the doctor did have some affiliation with a top notch university hospital -- he had admitting privileges at a small community hospital that was , in fact, owned and operated by the esteemed university hospital; although I doubt that he had consultation privileges for endocrinology even in that hospital.
There is no reason, other than laziness and irresponsibility, for someone not to spend a few minutes in researching a doctor they plan to see, and to at least confirm that he or she is board certified in the field they practice in. Fancy cards, fancy signage, and fancy talk are as suited to some meretricious doctors as they are to used car salesmen.
So remember, all you Greg Bradys out there; Caveat Emptor, Let the Buyer Beware!
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
Maurice Tougas
Poppi Iceland
Christine Bollerud
Dr. Vanessa Neumann
The Feral Conservative
Donna Carbone
Salon.com
Comments
I think it's as important to be an informed medical customer so that one can know whether or not the treatment is good or if it is wrong. As you often point out, there are a lot of bad doctors out there!
As a good old Catholic girl, this Latin phrase is well know to me from all the years of studying Latin.
But got to tell ya, in all affection and respect, that we spend a lot more time, daily, if fact, in our cars and watching tv.
If we're lucky, no need to see a doctor more than 1-2 times a year, on average, right?
So, time spent on car and tv decisions might outweigh the other, especially if you're older like me and have had the same docs for many years!
For that I am grateful and I love my docs so much! You are a very dedicated and tireless group of people and I thank you from the bottom of my happily ticking heart!
I hope one day we'll have true medical choices, the ones that those afraid of universal healthcare are so afraid we're going to lose if the goverment gets involved in healthcare (when most of us have already lost choices -- even those of us who have "excellent" insurance that we're paying a premium for).
r
I have nothing against supplements and skin care items since many of them work well, but there is a line that this physician crossed between being a professional and being a salesman.
ESL
Thank you much; your articles are so enlightening!