Shawn Whatley, Author at shawn whatley md

Medical Associations – Victimhood and False Hope in Structure

Medical associations only work if members agree to work together. It takes more than great structure to hold us together.

If members get drunk on victimhood, then associations will crumble. Thinking that everything-is-about-power guarantees ruin.

We must value each other, without resentment or fear of someone else’s apparent power or privilege. Not to be polite or cuddly; we need to value how differences further a common cause.

Feeling the Hate

The only truly awkward presentation I had to make as president was a welcome and update for a sub-group of the Ontario Medical Association.

Everyone was a doctor. Everyone was an OMA member. And almost everyone appeared to hold deep resentment—even spite—for my physical presence.

I have faced many rooms full of angry doctors. Individuals who yell or curse care enough to get mad. You can work with them. But frowns, scowls, and icy silence rule out conversation. (Bested only by morons chanting in unison.) Continue reading “Medical Associations – Victimhood and False Hope in Structure”

Dreading Vacation

Do you dread what everyone else wants?

Have you dreaded what you want yourself?

You love your babies, but you can’t wait for them to outgrow diapers. Most people look forward to birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. But you would rather skip special events altogether.

Dreading a vacation must mean something for medicine and politics, but the creative stretch would beggar both ends of the connection.

I blame Dr. Matt Poyner. He quit work and unschooled his children for a year. Make sure you read his popular post: How to Leave Medicine and Travel the World.

My wife loved Matt’s post. But it damaged her ability to think clearly and cracked my resolve to say no. Continue reading “Dreading Vacation”

Why Do Doctors Feel Stressed?

Everyone knows what it feels like to be a doctor. No, everyone hasn’t drilled holes into peoples heads or drained pus from buttocks. But every single person has experienced why doctors feel stressed.

Doctors spend their lives trying to offer less to people who want more. It’s like talking with someone who does not want to hang up the phone. All. Day. Long.

To be clear, it is not because doctors want to hang up. No, most doctors would love to talk forever, if we could afford it.

We like people.

Patient stories fascinate us.

But the clock ticks. Each minute means more overhead, with less to pay for it. Moments mean money that patients experience for ‘free’ and doctors experience as smaller payments to pay bigger bills.

Five dollars a minute. Patients get it for nothing. After the first 6-10 minutes for regular visits, doctors pay for the extra time.

Lopsided Relationship

This artificial everything-for-free arrangement sets up medicine as an unbalanced caller scenario. One person wants to stay on the call forever. The other person feels pressure to get off as soon as possible. Only politeness keeps us on the phone.

Doctors want to talk. And they do not want to go broke talking. Why can’t we find a way to let people talk as long as they want and pay for the experience, if they want it?

I know some patients would love it. And many doctors would love it too. A match made in heaven: Talkative patient meets sympathetic doctor. Talk away. Solve the world’s problems. Continue reading “Why Do Doctors Feel Stressed?”