Medical UNprofessionals
Going to the doctor can be nerve wracking for even the bravest of people, even if it’s only for a quick checkup.
Fortunately, most doctors and nurses are great people just trying to help…but these Redditors and Quorans were unlucky enough to run into medical workers who are rude, aggressive, and just plain unprofessional.
Check out their stories below—just don’t let them put you off going to the doctor when you need to.
1. Probably Shouldn’t Be A Doctor
Someone I know went to an oncologist because they thought she might have cancer. "I have good news", the doctor said, "your test results are back and you do not have cancer. Congratulations". A week later, she got a disturbing call.
Someone called to schedule her first round of chemo. She told the lady on the phone that there must be some mistake, the doctor said she was cancer-free. The lady on the phone got real uncomfortable and said, "
I have an order here from that doctor that you are to begin chemotherapy, so you better call his office to straighten this out. And perhaps contact a lawyer".
She does and it turns out that all her charts showed she had cancer. The doctor knew it but simply lied about it because he didn't like to deliver bad news.
After investigating, they discovered several other patients who went through exactly the same ordeal.
Her chemo and lawsuit are both pending.
2. Way To Go, Champ
My doctor couldn't get the speculum in. After a lot of pushing, it finally—and painfully—slams inside me. The doctor was excited by his achievement and goes "Atta girl! That's my champ!"
The nurse looked at him in horror. I busted out laughing. He realized almost immediately that it was very weird, turned completely red, and went, "I'm so sorry! I coach Little League!"
3. Hamming It Up
When I was seven and in second grade, I fell off the monkey bars at school and landed on my wrist. I could feel that something was seriously wrong, but the school nurse shrugged it off and sent me to class.
I was forced to use the wrist (my writing hand) for the rest of the day.
When my mom came to pick me up, the nurse told her I had been "hamming it up" all afternoon. Fortunately, my parents have half a brain and saw that it was obviously broken.
I had a cast for three months, and that nurse didn't look me in the eye for the rest of my elementary school career.
Oh, and apparently the break was barely a centimeter from the growth plate. I came within a centimeter of having a seven-year-old's hand for the rest of my life. Would have been a fun bar story, at least.
4. The Antenatal Appointment
I discovered that I was pregnant just weeks after my 40th birthday. To say I was shocked is an understatement! As part of my care, I had to attend an antenatal appointment with my doctor. Unfortunately, what he said to me left me in tears.
This so-called medical "professional" looked me straight in the eyes and told me that I was irresponsible for getting impregnated at my age. He added that my baby would definitely be born with Down Syndrome.
He very carefully explained to me that women are born with a set amount of eggs and these are similar to eggs on a supermarket shelf because they have a "best before" date.
Getting pregnant at 40 meant that an out-of-date egg had somehow gotten fertilized and he told me that it was 100% certain that my unborn baby wouldn't be healthy and would have a disability. His next advise shocked me to the core. The doctor told me that I stop the pregnancy to save the embarrassment of having a baby with special needs. I was so upset I started to cry and he told me that it was my hormones making me emotionally unstable!
When I left the surgery, I went home and cried my eyes out, feeling as though I'd done something wrong. When my partner came home from work, I told him what the doctor had said and he was angrier than I'd ever seen him before.
I mentioned the option of terminating and he just looked at me and said that we would love our child no matter what.
Seven months later, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy whom I loved instantly. That stupid doctor was wrong.
