In reply to mictim I have read your very eye opening "Rant" and I agree with you 100%. Right now I will choose just one area from which you spoke. That is doctor /patient relationship. These past 2 years have been very difficult for me both physically and mentally. I have a primary doctor who I think/did think highly of. However she did not pursue any of the issues I brought to her. She basically related most of my ailments to grieve after losing my husband. I bought this until recently when I am diagnosed with idiopathic (at this time) peripheral neuropathy. My leg, foot and toes are so swollen I can barely put weight on my left leg. Other issues coming to light also. She did refer my to a neurologist. I believe her thinking was to rule out neuropathy. Well after nerve conduction tests and physical exam it is found that yes I have it and the neurologist asks why no one had figured this out. I told her I did. I won't go into the ins and outs. Just that yesterday I was seen by my primary physician and for the 1st time I became angry with her. I told her she has not been listening to me at all and now have issues that are serious. Not just neuropathy. What really hurt was that this very lovely lady who could be a poster child for a beautiful doctor, became defensive with me. First time I have seen her lose some of her "Cool" Not professionally at all. I did not attack. I actually was in tears telling her I did not feel she is listening to me. She abruptly ended our 15 min visit. This is not unusual, but yesterday it really hurt. I needed compassion, not sympathy, but a soft ear. I counseled addicts and their families for 30 years before retiring. I know she is a "Doctor", not a counselor, but she could have put her doctor away for a few minutes and given me what I needed most which was some compassion. Thank you mictim for putting your wonderful rant out there. I so needed to vent that and now give it up before it eats me up.