Doctors. I don't mean to be rude, but why are they so up themselves? Seem so rude ... ?
Asked by gu2_ad
I work in a hospital in Manchester. Doctors seem to be so rude, don't acknowledge you when you're in the room, or say hi to you. Why ?

Best Answer:
In many cases, it's simply a combo of stress and a high workload. There is a shortage of doctors almost everywhere due to an ageing population and the increase in chronic disease, just to name a few reasons. There are many more factors complicating the issue as well. Also, many times a doctor is *thinking*, which is a good thing, trust me! ;) Sometimes us analytical folk tend to think in our head and make sure we cover all of the bases. While we're focusing on your case (or someone else's) we tend to forget that there is a person attached. Nothing personal, it's how MANY doctors operate. How many times have you been really focused/busy at work and unintentionally didn't acknowledge someone? Now, I'm not trying to make excuses for downright rude doctors (they're human, they exist), but rather give them the benefit of the doubt. I personally wouldn't take it personally. ;) It's well known that nurses generally provide much better bedside manner. Doctors often need improvement in that area, but again, it's usually NOT that they're trying to be rude. Medicine often draws these types...we tend to think in our head a lot. Often, these types prefer data, technical skills, and machines to patient interaction. That said, some doctors are VERY friendly and chatty. Everyone doesn't fit the same pattern. Good luck to you!
Pre-Med AND LPN student who definitely is a science/facts/data person over a "people person". I have to work very hard to be more "nurturing" during my LPN student job. It is a totally different perspective!
Answered by reginachick22

Good question...you'd think they'd be nicer since it takes them such a long time to get through college anyway. I guess they're just slower learners than those in other professions. ;-)
Answered by Insurance Pickle.com

no social skills taught at medical school lack of interpersonal relationships-everyone they talk to isnt feeling very well
Answered by danceswithwolves

Because they have no social skills at all - even as a patient i struggle with the elitist lil pricks & yet they earn sod all!
Answered by Earth Angel

Why wouldn't you say hi rather waiting to be greeted.
Answered by Nicolas

The doctors could be busy, have other things on their mind. I'm sure most have or would like personal lives. I'm sure a doctor's life can be stressful You can extend a friendly hello. Good morning Dr. X, Good evening Dr. Y, or how's it going Dr. Z.
Answered by M G

I suppose it has something to do with the fact that as they spend most of their days looking up @rs holes, they start turning into one.
Answered by sailor

Well I'm sure its not true of all Doctors but many of them are arrogant i don't know why and i have lived with and around them for years. I guess if they are doing the job everyday they see so many people saying 'hi' doesn't come across their mind or that they are stressed or pre-occupied with one of the many other things their job includes.
Answered by animemadness

I agree :-) wish they were like that nice Dr Greene off ER *swoons*
Answered by Anna C

They get 7 years of medical school but no time at all in social skills, and they're usually too stressed and too busy as you probably know since you work in a hospital. Not like on "Scrubs" is it?
Answered by Sir Richard

Did you ever stop to think that they might be pondering a health issue? Their minds are working away (after all those years learning how to be a doctor) on someones illness. I'd rather have a rude doctor who is working hard on solving my granddaughter's problem than one who was being social, polite and "nice" with me.
Answered by Blue

I was in hospital with appendix trouble last month.They are so nice to you.But when you disagree they go off in a huff.All before and after (nursing staff)said it was a bad one and i was in for over a week with this up up himself in a mood because i disagreed.So i agree with you.He also left me with an ugly 7"scar.
Answered by angler

Some of them really think they are better than ordinary folks. I know some that are OK, but when I had my son in the hospital this one doc kept avoiding my questions and talking to the nurses like I was not there about my son. I confronted her and told her she was not to ever treat my son while in the hospital, and I was going to report her, or punch her. She left in a huff, and all the nurses clapped.
Answered by Mark C

An elitist group self governed,just like politicians.Use the words "ignorant bastard" worked for me
Answered by golden

Because they are professionals who went to medical school and now they are high and mighty! Not all doctors are rude and it can depend on how you approach them too. Many of them are all business and don't necessarily try to be social to everyone (especially hospital employees). You also might be in a hospital or in a department that happens to not have the friendliest doctors. I have encountered both, but the basic mentality is they are professionals and are business. They can turn on their charms when they want, but leave them off when it isn't important to them.
Answered by Pauly

They feel that if they have gotten that far than they are above most other positions in the hospital. They feel they deserve respect for the education and training they had to go through. So yes- some feel supeior, some don't. You see the same mentallity with attorneys and how they treat their paralegals. Hope this helps.
Answered by kam

Are any of you doctors or in medical school? How would you know what they teach in medical school and how much social skills play a part in the life of a medical student and doctor? It takes an immense amount of "social skills" to even get into med school. I think it is extremely ignorant to have an experience with one or two or even 3 doctors and then classify them "all" as rude or bastards or any of the ignorant insults you all gave. Until you've met all the doctors that are practicing I think it would be best not to make such generalizations. Grow up. PS. Doctors are not slow learners but quite the opposite. Go to a medical school for one day, sit in class, and then see who the slow learner is.
Answered by Rick Ross

Well, seeing as they spend so many years of life in the education system, more than the average person, and they have to study so hard, I think that they dont get the chance to have the same lives as other people their age in different jobs. They dont get to experience the same things, and have as much social interaction. Theyre still at school, when theyre in their late twentys, like children, so when they finally get out of school, they are only just getting the chance to experience the real world, so Im guessing it will be a while before most of them realise the importance of manners.
Answered by thelonelywanderer1

I work at a children's hospital, and most of the doctors here are very nice, especially the residents. Some of the higher up docs, ESPECIALLY the surgeons, have tree branches, not sticks, up there ***holes. Maybe its working at a children's hospital that makes them a little nicer, but I have found that most people are arrogant by nature, its the fact that doctors have the power to act on their arrogance. They can be punks but no body can touch them because they are high up on the hospital chain. I am a Respiratory Therapist, and I'm pretty low on the chain . If I so much as fart in a doctor or administrator's direction, I will end up in solitary. For all you nurses out there, I just have one question. Why are you all pleasantly nice on the regular floors, but when you get to the ICU, your arrogance jumps out? What is it about that place that makes you turn into ***holes?
Answered by monkeyman1

I wonder if this old Joke might shed some light " What's the difference between God and a Doctor. Answer God doesn't think he's a Doctor!
Answered by Herb