Our experiences
Murray: My dentist's receptionist stopped me last week with a question as I was leaving her desk. “You used to be an obstetrician,” she said, and explained her problem to me in uncomfortable detail. Her current obstetrician had suggested an operation to prevent miscarriage, and she was not confident that it would be safe or effective. To my suggestion that she request a second opinion, she responded that she couldn't even dream of doing so. Her doctor, she feared, would consider that as lack of respect for his opinion, and he might not continue to look after her.
Carlos: The health professional who catheterised me after my recent appendectomy used the anaesthetic gel simply as lubricant, without waiting for the anaesthetic to take effect. Neither I nor my wife, who is also a doctor, openly questioned the neglect of this simple precaution, which converted an unpleasant procedure into an unnecessarily painful one. Why did we let that happen? Did we think that being passive and compliant made me …