Honestly, most of what I experienced was just medical professionals assuming any patient was a lobotomy victim, so being aware of one's own medical care was viewed as a sign of being crazy instead of being smart.
When medical professionals (whether they are doctors, nurses, or EMTs) view their patients as natural born idiots it hinders proper care. It also creates an adversarial relationship that makes care more difficult for both parties. Of course a patient should
not attempt to step in and direct care, but they
should be allowed to (and welcomed to) be a partner in care. Particularly since the patient often needs to continue treatment on their own afterward.
There are a lot of overworked, undercompensated, highly stressed individuals in health care. Some are plainly burned out, and others are just jerks, or worse. An awful lot of people in the health care field find they don't actually like taking care of other people, but remain miscast in the role of care-giver, anyway. We can teach clinical skills, but it's not really possible for us to teach adults courtesy, compassion or respect.
Today, patients absolutely must be well informed, vigilant, and organized to survive any major voyage through the byzantine world of health care. Remember, we only kill 100,000 or so people per year with our medical errors. You are your own best, and often only, advocate. Don't accept excessively rude or demeaning treatment without complaint, but also be sure to express your appreciation to those who serve you well.
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