The Doctor Factor

[rodbarnett]

By Marjorie Williams
Wednesday, December 31, 2003; Page A19


At long last, the revelation I've been waiting for: the reason why -- beyond the prospect of epic, McGovernesque defeat -- I feel so uneasy about Howard Dean.

The man is a doctor. This is the least-examined chapter of his career. But suddenly it all makes sense: Where else but in medicine do you find men and women who never admit a mistake? Who talk more than they listen, and feel entitled to withhold crucial information? Whose lack of tact in matters of life and death might disqualify them for any other field?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43185-2003Dec30.html

This is a very interesting OP-Ed. I tend to agree with the writer on many points. What do you think?

[eileen_d]

1. Geez - another Post editorial compares Dean to John Wayne

"Dean and the Duke"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43182-2003Dec30.html

Both editorials suggest one thing to me: There are too many columnists with time on their hands.

[izzie]

2. Try air line s they have a lot of people like that.

They seem like bus drivers yet act like Gods. Good to fly planes I guess if you need your ego made bigger.

[ozymandius]

3. All doctors are alike. They think alike. They sing alike. They even wear

their hair parted on the same side.

Sounds like a straw man argument to me. Note this caveat:

(A disclaimer: Naturally, all the doctors who are presently treating and advising me are paragons of sagacity and compassion, nothing at all like the men and women I am so broadly lampooning. You know who you are.)

Also let's substitute Bush for Dean in these two paragraphs:

Which brings me to the irrationally strong impulse, shared by doctors and politicians, to hoard information. Consider the high-handed way Bush has tried to shield great portions of his gubernatorial records. Similarly, doctors seem bent on ensuring that you not read the runic scribblings they have made in your chart. During one hospital stay, as I sat in a wheelchair outside Radiology waiting to be pushed back to my room, I began idly flipping through my chart. A young female doctor-in-training I had never seen before stopped in front of me and said, "You know, you really shouldn't be reading your chart." I thanked her for her advice and continued reading. She repeated her admonition. I explained that I was 43 and couldn't possibly read anything worse there than I had already been told by five real doctors. Upon which she actually wrested it from my grasp. (From this I learned always to go to a stall in the ladies' room when I want to read my chart.)

Finally, let's turn to what newspapers delicately title "the temperament question." Bush's been called arrogant, angry, condescending, prickly. He has gotten this far by playing his chesty irritability as a sign of honesty and integrity.

I am also curious to know is she ever asked why a patient should not read their chart. As far as I can tell, Marjorie Williams has never been a patient of Dr. Dean. I think her transferrance is unfounded. Ms. Williams might also consider that medicine and politics are two uniquely different subjects. I am surprised her editor gave her a pass on this.

[dkf]

4. Oh come on...he's the best listener out there. Its the rest that are deaf

to rank and file Dems.

Who understood the anger of grassroots Dems 1st?

Who figured out that many Dems were more mad at the Party than at Bush?

Who built a campaign modeled on open source and decentralization?

You say Dean never admits a mistake? Not according to journalists who followed him in Vermont and put together a book on Dean:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-deanbook26dec26,1,3972702.story

"It reports on how Dean would change his mind on issues, not because he was wishy-washy, the authors suggested, but because he was willing to acknowledge when he was wrong."

That author is generalizing about Doctors and doesn't have a clue about Dean.

[auntpattywatty]

5. After the Nomination is complete, will we have to listen to post of this

nature

[pansypoo53219]

6. just because Bush is a failed businessman

does not make him H.Truman.

and by his measure of Drs. shouldn't Sen. majority leader Friskie also be looked at the same way?

[bemildred]

7. Nothing personal, but I think its bullshit.

It's a hit piece, and WaPo talking about arrogance
is too funny for words.

[SheilaT]

8. Doctors Bad, Failed Businessman Good!

That's the summation of that stupid WP piece.

Not all doctors never change their mind or don't acknowledge when they've made a mistake. And lawyers... lawyers! They have a code of "ethics" that doesn't allow them to let anyone else know if their client is guilty or is planning to do something terrible. That's better?

What I like best about Dean, and what I think makes him such a fine candidate is that he has been a family practice doctor, has dealt with all kinds of people and treated them. He comes across as a man of tremendous compassion and sympathy, and I can assure you that he's a fantastic listener.

[Bozvotros]

11. Hit and Run Post

Substitute lawyer, minister, salesman, factory worker, convenience store clerk, social worker etc, or any former occupation, then list every negative stereotype associated with them. Now find a politician who comes from that background and see how easy it is to find a way to match them up to a few of them.

Works even better with race, gender and sexual orientation.... but we'll leave that to Rush, Savage and the rest of the Repug thugs.

[flpoljunkie]

9. I think she shares the same concerns that many of us have re Dr. Dean...

Finally, let's turn to what newspapers delicately title "the temperament question." Dean's been called arrogant, angry, condescending, prickly. He has gotten this far by playing his chesty irritability as a sign of honesty and integrity.

But I have enough brusque, irritable doctors in my life without sending one to the White House.

I have the same concern about Dean. Why should Democrats choose to stand around all spring and summer holding their breath against the moment when Dean says something arrogant or impolitic? (Think Southern guys with Confederate flag decals on their pickup trucks.) We're the ones who are supposed to be allowed to go on with our temperamental little lives, while our major-party nominees are the poor chumps who have agreed to adhere to the rigid, Ken-doll theater of politics.

And so I bring to my assessment of this year's Democratic candidates one requirement that never crossed my mind before. First, do no harm.
_________________________________

"Don't just send them a message. Send them a President." - John Kerry

[flpoljunkie]

10. Kick.

:kick:

[Stuckinthebush]

12. Oh, please...all doctors never admit a mistake???/

I'll let my wife -- the doctor -- know that is the case.

Also, I'll let her colleagues -- doctors -- know as well.

Crap.

Pure and simple. Yes, there are certain types of physicians that have that reputation (surgeons), but Family Practitioners, Internists, Psychiatrists, Radiologists, Gerontologists, etc., etc. aren't that way in real life. Only in the movies.