Doctors: A question for anyone who works with or knows one well.

[Kahnno6]

I was having a stressful day at the office, so I decided to take a break and read a few articles at: http://www.newsoftheweird.com/. I usually find the stories amusing. While reading this week's article, I came across this story:


Martinsburg, W.Va., physician John C. Veltman, 52, was arrested in May after he (likely intoxicated) commandeered a backhoe and hit a building and a tree and crashed through two fences. Veltman allegedly told an arriving police officer, "I am a (expletive omitted by the Martinsburg Journal) medical doctor, and you are below me." [KNTV-TV (San Jose, Calif.)-AP, 6-14-06] [Martinsburg Journal, 5-16-06]


This got me to thinking. I have known doctors in the past who certainly came off as arrogant, but I never thought they honestly believed that they were "above" the general populous. I know here on YABs, we have several posters who work in the medical profession. Have any of you known doctors who actually believe they are better than most people because of their profession? Is it very common?

[Sabrinaset]

ON YOUR KNEES, Kahnno6!!!

Okay, okay ...

This guy was drunk. I mean, geez, doctors are human beings too. But, the only doctors I know who have delusions of grandeur are the ones in charge of the interns or residents. Those guys just LOOOOOVE running us around in circles. I'd say the bigger danger is the overwhelming amount of work and responsibility doctors have which drives some into a state of lassitude or walking shock. Considering you're always a moment away from a frivolous malpractice suit, no one has a right to be arrogant like that.

What the heck is a "backhoe", anyway? I mean, the only backhoe I know you can drive looks like this:

http://www.celebopedia.com/paris-hilton/images/paris-hilton.jpg

[Boldido]

My wife is a doctor and I have had the misfortune of having to socialize with many of them. Hell, I'm leaving in about one hour to meet several along with some pharmaceutical reps at the Hard Rock Seminole Indian Casino.

I don't think that they think they are better than everyone, but many do appear to me to be social misfits. I don't know if its because their job is so intense that they cannot socialize on a normal basis. My wife is brilliant when it comes to medicine, but it seems her brain can't fit non medical stuff in there.

They also get their butts kissed a lot. No one really challenges them. That's why the only part about socializing with them is the looks on their faces when they find out I'm a lawyer. That's fun. Apparently, lawyers are the natural predators of doctors. The way I see it, lawyers are either the apex predators standing alone on the top of the food chain, or perhaps more likely, the bacteria that brought down the martians in War of the Worlds.

[Gaz]

ON YOUR KNEES, Kahnno6!!!

What the heck is a "backhoe", anyway? I mean, the only backhoe I know you can drive looks like this:

I think it's the proper name for one of those big digger things, where it's a crane arm with the big bucket on the end, instead of the shovel type.

[Cam63]

The doctors I know are generally a nice bunch and I've only encountered a couple that I'd classify as arrogant.

Yes, Bree. Paris is a type of back hoe, but she never gets any dirt on her shovel.

[Gilda Dent]

Jed: I have an M.D. from Harvard. I am board certified in cardiothoracic medicine and trauma surgery. I have been awarded citations from seven different medical journals in New England; and I am never, ever sick at sea.

So I ask you, when someone goes into that chapel and they fall on their knees and they pray to God that their wife doesn't miscarry, or that their daughter doesn't bleed to death, or that their mother doesn't suffer acute neural trauma from postoperative shock, who do you think they're praying to? Now, you go ahead and read your Bible, Dennis, and you go to your church and with any luck you might win the annual raffle. But if you're looking for God, he was in operating room number two on November 17th, and he doesn't like to be second guessed.

You ask me if I have a God complex?

Let me tell you something: I am god.

From Malice, easily one of my favorite Aaron Sorkin speeches.

Gilda

[Sabrinaset]

I think I haveta start watching more movies like my Gildafriend does.

[Cam63]

Have you seen " Bound. " ?

It's the only movie I've seen where two lesbians are the heroes of the story.

It's a pretty decent movie and helped save Gina Gershon's career from " Showgirls. "

[Merey]

Jed: I have an M.D. from Harvard. I am board certified in cardiothoracic medicine and trauma surgery. I have been awarded citations from seven different medical journals in New England; and I am never, ever sick at sea.

So I ask you, when someone goes into that chapel and they fall on their knees and they pray to God that their wife doesn't miscarry, or that their daughter doesn't bleed to death, or that their mother doesn't suffer acute neural trauma from postoperative shock, who do you think they're praying to? Now, you go ahead and read your Bible, Dennis, and you go to your church and with any luck you might win the annual raffle. But if you're looking for God, he was in operating room number two on November 17th, and he doesn't like to be second guessed.

You ask me if I have a God complex?

Let me tell you something: I am god.

From Malice, easily one of my favorite Aaron Sorkin speeches.

Gilda


Wow, I never realized how unique of a signature style Sorkin has with his writing. I've never seen Malice, but I'm a huge WW and Sports Night fan, so I guess I've been exposed to his writing enough that it only took me two sentences into the speech before I knew exactly who wrote it. There are very few writers I can say the same.

RE: Doctors. I have three doctor friends in my circle of friends (they all know one another from med. school). I'd say they're all out-going, sociable guys. Yeah, they're all quirky and they definitely have an inner geek, but then we all do, that's why we're a good group of friends.

[Gilda Dent]

Have you seen " Bound. " ?

It's the only movie I've seen where two lesbians are the heroes of the story.

It's a pretty decent movie and helped save Gina Gershon's career from " Showgirls. "

We watched one a couple of days ago, Saving Face. It's a pretty standard light romance, but with Chinese lesbians instead of a man and a woman, an overworked surgeon and a ballet dancer.

Gilda

[Cam63]

I think I've heard of that movie.

[macul]

I work in a medical clinic with a staff of about 30 doctors. Some of them are very down to earth. Some of them are very arrogant and put forth the "I'm better than you." attitude. Most of them are somewhere inbetween.