I try to remind myself that doctors, who are only human, begin to go numb and to de-tune shortly after commencing their practices. Learning and getting qualified, that is exciting, novel, requires energy and commitment. Something new every day. But, unless they go on to specialization (which most seem to want to do these days, few family doctors), and can maintain that drive, their day-to-day experience becomes routine, repetitive, many repeat visits by the same sick people whom they can't really help...etc. After ten years of that, and a ballooning belly from stress, we might appreciate why family medicine is almost a thing of the past. And because of this, the specialists have to take up the slack. Family doctors can't/wont help many of us, so we go to where we think the real help is going to be....and that's waiting months to see a specialist (at least, that's the way in Canada where the State owns us and our health care).