Letter: Many doctors neglect, ignore patients; service deteriorating

Saturday, Aug. 2, 1997 | 5:33 a.m.

Perhaps the most tragic deterioration is in the quality of our health care. Good health is our most precious possession. There are still some caring, competent health care professionals in our community, but they seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

I am sure many people can relate to experiences where doctors never return phone calls. Or a patient's file is misplaced or lost in a doctor's office, and neither the doctor nor any of the staff seem to remember that you are their patient.

A patient often waits several hours to see a physician only to end up seeing a physician's assistant instead.

Of course, the patient is charged the same rate for seeing the physician's assistant as he or she is for seeing the more highly trained doctor.

Also, many doctor's offices justify a doctor's tardiness because the doctor is busy. But aren't patients' lives and their time equally important?

We have jobs and families to care for, too.

A person who is already ill does not need this intolerable and unnecessary mistreatment by certain members of the medical profession.

Wake up, health care professionals!

You have the power to help and heal, but instead there are a significant number of you who find it easier to neglect and ignore patients and their needs.

The Hippocratic Oath has almost become nonexistent among too many health care providers.

This is a deplorable state.

Susan Brattain