How to Find a Good Doctor

Readers of these posts occasionally ask me to be their doctor. Since I’m long past retirement age and make housecalls exclusively, I can’t be anyone’s family doctor.

These requests bring up a serious problem:  how do you find a good doctor? Searching the internet turns up an avalanche of physicians yearning to care for you.

All seem humane, state of the art, eager to serve. Why isn’t the choice easy? The answer, of course, is that these are advertisements: fawning and phony.

It’s impossible for doctors to advertise without appearing shifty. They invariably point out their expertise, but you take that for granted. They extol their compassion. That sounds creepy, but they can’t resist. 

I’m not after your business. I give medical advice but only if it contradicts what you hear elsewhere or seems amusing.

I enjoy describing life as a hotel doctor and delivering opinions on the world, mostly as it relates to medicine. I write what I want although my wife exerts a modest influence (almost always by saying “you can’t post that...”).

I’m often the hero of my stories, but they’re mostly day-to-day events, some of which I wish hadn’t happened. The result is that I come across as a real human being. Why shouldn’t I? I’m a good writer. Most doctors can’t write; neither can their advertising agencies.

Terrific doctors aren’t rare. Their patients know who they are, so the best way to find one is to poll people you know. Asking doctors is OK, because they’re unlikely to name anyone bad, but they tend to prefer their friends. The only terrific doctors I know are those I’ve seen in action – most often caring for me. Ask around.