A woman laments, "The most frustrating thing for me during my husband's bypass surgery was the number of doctors that we had to deal with and the fact that they did not seem to care about us as human beings." For years, you could go to one doctor who would take care of you no matter what your medical needs might be. The family doctor was there when the major transitions of life were negotiated: births, operations, adolescence, menopause, death. The family doctor was not only there but extended a caring hand.
With the explosion of medical technology, medical science began to specialize by leaps and bounds. A few years ago this trend reached a peak when it was almost impossible for the average person to know where to turn for help. Revitalization in the practice of the family doctor has occurred, but many people remain confused and lost in the maze of specialists.
It is no wonder that many people who remember the treatment of their family doctor feel there is a lack of respect and genuine concern. Many doctors also feel frustrated for many of the same reasons. But, there is much you can do to help yourself in the midst of the changing medical scene.
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