Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dr called me rude then got offended when I called him rude back

159 replies

amilea · 23/07/2025 19:33

I had a telephone call with a consultant today and he said i interrupted and Overspoke him and he called me rude this is something I struggle with especially with phone conversations as how do you know when the person has finished talking but i accept this is rude so didnt argue it or say anything back. When he had definitely finished talking I said can I speak now please and then within my first sentence he interrupted me so I said you're being rude im talking and my god he went off like a bottle of pop and how insulting it is that I called him rude and how he cant continue being my dr if I think he's rude. At this point im crying and he said I dont want you to get upset but im not going to help you if you insult me. It ended with him referring me to someone else. But why does he think its ok to call me rude but its not ok for me to call him rude, I said the exact thing to him as what he said to me. But just because he's a dr its ok for him to say whatever he wants and not for me.
Aibu to think that where all human and just because he's a dr it doesnt make what I said worse.

OP posts:
amilea · 23/07/2025 20:42

CaptainFuture · 23/07/2025 20:37

You missed the 'you pay their wages!!!' buy there...

I have never or would I ever say that to anyone now that is rude and he would have every right to lose his 💩 if I said that

OP posts:
amilea · 23/07/2025 20:41

Mountainfrog · 23/07/2025 20:37

I am a vet and speak to lots of owners on the phone. Most conversations are pleasant and very much a two way street (listening and talking) but there are some clients who barely take a breath, don’t let you explain anything, speak over you and it is frustrating because presumably they want their test results and a treatment plan but they can make it very difficult to get there.
I’m not saying this is what happened in your case and perhaps the consultant was out of order, but it is important to listen to what they have to say and then respond. Ideally have a notepad with you, note down the points they’ve made and then rather than interrupting midflow to correct something or question further, wait for a natural pause and then come back to anything that wasn’t clear, rather than rushing in. I know it’s tempting to do this especially if you are worried that a point will be missed. Sometimes you can miss other things that are said while you are waiting for a pause to jump in and speak again. I do sometimes offer to send across what we have discussed in an email if the owner is worried they will forget or won’t understand everything we discussed.

Im definitely going to do the notepad thing in the future

OP posts:
amilea · 23/07/2025 20:39

BoudiccaRuled · 23/07/2025 20:29

I'm thinking you might feel differently if you heard the other side to the story!

Iv written exactly what I said i barely got to speak so their really wasnt anything else.

OP posts:
Turtlebed · 23/07/2025 20:38

Truthfully, rightly or wrongly I would have done the same as you. If someone called a behaviour rude then did the exact same thing it would have really irritated me, regardless of who they were.

Wizardonabroom · 23/07/2025 20:38

@LemondrizzleShark @DPotter @HurrayDuvet Thank you for letting me know. The calls in my school are recorded so I thought this would be quite common amongst public services. I've been very glad of the recorded conversations at times when I've needed to investigate something or support a colleague.

Mountainfrog · 23/07/2025 20:37

I am a vet and speak to lots of owners on the phone. Most conversations are pleasant and very much a two way street (listening and talking) but there are some clients who barely take a breath, don’t let you explain anything, speak over you and it is frustrating because presumably they want their test results and a treatment plan but they can make it very difficult to get there.
I’m not saying this is what happened in your case and perhaps the consultant was out of order, but it is important to listen to what they have to say and then respond. Ideally have a notepad with you, note down the points they’ve made and then rather than interrupting midflow to correct something or question further, wait for a natural pause and then come back to anything that wasn’t clear, rather than rushing in. I know it’s tempting to do this especially if you are worried that a point will be missed. Sometimes you can miss other things that are said while you are waiting for a pause to jump in and speak again. I do sometimes offer to send across what we have discussed in an email if the owner is worried they will forget or won’t understand everything we discussed.

CaptainFuture · 23/07/2025 20:37

5128gap · 23/07/2025 20:07

He is in the wrong. He's a professional paid and trained to manage verbal consultations, and to establish enough of a relationship of trust with you that you are able to disclose your health details so he knows all he needs to.
He should understand that not all his patients will be confident and skilled communicators especially over the phone, and use his professional skills and training to manage that.
It was reasonable for him to ask you not to interrupt while he was explaining, but should not have called you rude. He should have allowed you to speak as you may have been disclosing something important, and if he needed to stop you should have politely said 'may I stop you there...?'
As it is the relationship has broken down due to his poor communication skills.
And it really doesn't matter how skilled a medical practitioner he is, if he can't manage a verbal consultation with a patient, he needs to improve. Let's hope the next one does better.

You missed the 'you pay their wages!!!' buy there...

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 23/07/2025 20:37

Doctors should be in listening mode, not speaking over patients and telling them they’re rude. He may have just been having a very bad day.

Agree with others that what you’ve described sounds like autistic traits. Maybe the doctor has these too and it was bad social communication skills all round.

BatchCookBabe · 23/07/2025 20:37

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:35

He's referred me to someone else and he doesnt work at my local hospital so I doubt i will ever speak to him again

Oh well that's good! At least he can't be rude to you again.

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:37

Sunshineandrainbows23 · 23/07/2025 20:35

Yes, you hit the nail on the head re the power imbalance.

As patients we are often anxious and have a million and one questions,/things we want to say in our head. We know the Drs are short of time so it's easy to blurt out and I agree it's not always easy to know when someone has finished speaking the phone.

The Dr should just have said he'll answer any questions at the end. Medics often ask if you have any questions before they hang up.

I know you didn't do yourself any favours by pointing out his rudeness back but I uttered a silent "yessss" when I read that 😇 Most Drs are lovely but the rude ones make you feel small and unheard.

If the next appointment is face to face perhaps you could write any questions or concerns on a piece of paper so you won't forget them and he can answer when he's ready,?

Good luck for your recovery xx

Thankyou I really appreciate some of the lovely replies im getting and great tips for the future. It really is appreciated

OP posts:
BatchCookBabe · 23/07/2025 20:35

Clarinet1 · 23/07/2025 20:31

Well you know the old joke -
Q - What’s the difference between a doctor and God?
A - God doesn’t think He’s a doctor!

I've not heard that before. 😆

In fairness I find 95% of doctors fine these days, but pre 21st century, some were obnoxious - with a God complex. Not all but more than I experience now. Maybe a fifth rather than 5%!

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:35

BatchCookBabe · 23/07/2025 20:34

Hmmm, well I have experienced rude doctors (though not often thankfully,) but I have just not said anything, and forgotten about it. I have never made an appointment with that doctor again though. Can you see/speak to another doctor in future?

He's referred me to someone else and he doesnt work at my local hospital so I doubt i will ever speak to him again

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/07/2025 20:35

He sounds awful! Can’t believe some of the replies.

It’s horrible when someone won’t let you get a word in - especially as he criticised you for over talking, then when he finally finished and you could get a word in, did the same to you. Then to top it all he got angry. He really doesn’t sound professional at all.

Can you get transferred to someone else?

Sunshineandrainbows23 · 23/07/2025 20:35

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:21

I think we both could of handled it better the issue I have is how all the blame fell on me because he had all the power

Yes, you hit the nail on the head re the power imbalance.

As patients we are often anxious and have a million and one questions,/things we want to say in our head. We know the Drs are short of time so it's easy to blurt out and I agree it's not always easy to know when someone has finished speaking the phone.

The Dr should just have said he'll answer any questions at the end. Medics often ask if you have any questions before they hang up.

I know you didn't do yourself any favours by pointing out his rudeness back but I uttered a silent "yessss" when I read that 😇 Most Drs are lovely but the rude ones make you feel small and unheard.

If the next appointment is face to face perhaps you could write any questions or concerns on a piece of paper so you won't forget them and he can answer when he's ready,?

Good luck for your recovery xx

Growlybear83 · 23/07/2025 20:34

Based on everything you’ve said in your posts, I would have found you very rude and abrasive, particularly the passive aggressive way you asked if you could speak now, and then calling the doctor rude.

Isittimeformynapyet · 23/07/2025 20:34

MyUmberSeal · 23/07/2025 19:47

The way the NHS is at the moment, I’d let a consultant call me scuzzy cunt and I’d still nod and say thank you very much.

😂

ConcernedOfClapham · 23/07/2025 20:34

amilea · 23/07/2025 19:42

I know i should of kept my mouth shut and its me iv ruined it for in the long run but im so sick and tired of drs egos they seem to think they can do and say whatever they want and nobody will say anything back because they are drs and then when you do they cant handle it

Chalk it up to experience and be the bigger person.

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:34

PearlsMaybe · 23/07/2025 20:31

I get in this situation a lot but I think that "politeness" is mostly in the tone of voice.

There are many different ways to say "can I speak now" and it's the tone of voice that makes the difference.

OP - maybe you could record yourself having a conversation with a family member and compare your tone of voice to a public figure that you really respect. Perhaps someone like Michael Parkinson Michael Aspel. They are really emolient characters. Perhaps you could try to pick up some of their gentle tone so you can interrupt and get your say without getting in difficulties with stressed medics.

Yeah i think my tone is what gets me in trouble a lot its something that has been said to me in the past

OP posts:
BatchCookBabe · 23/07/2025 20:34

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:09

To see if people think its ok for drs to say anything because their drs

Hmmm, well I have experienced rude doctors (though not often thankfully,) but I have just not said anything, and forgotten about it. I have never made an appointment with that doctor again though. Can you see/speak to another doctor in future?

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:33

Clarinet1 · 23/07/2025 20:31

Well you know the old joke -
Q - What’s the difference between a doctor and God?
A - God doesn’t think He’s a doctor!

🤣🤣

OP posts:
rosiejaune · 23/07/2025 20:32

Yes I was going to ask if you were autistic too. It's common for women to be misdiagnosed (or not diagnosed).

I don't do phone calls at all since I realised why I struggle with them. Though it's hard to get anyone to make reasonable adjustments anyway! The NHS is very resistant to using email.

amilea · 23/07/2025 20:31

Nursingadvice · 23/07/2025 20:28

OP I didn’t want to say, but your posts screamed autism to me. I do t mean that rudely at all. But the struggling to pick up on social cues over the phone, coming across as rude, seeing the situation in quite a black and white way.
Maybe as someone is speaking to you on the phone, have a notepad and as things are popping in to your head, make a note, and then mention them at the end so you don’t need to interrupt.
I have ADHD and really struggle not to interrupt people. My work involves many team meetings and I find that difficult in the same way as you do phone calls.

I dont take it rudely at all. That's a brilliant tip thankyou because I do think the reason I interrupt people is if I dont il forget. Honestly thankyou I will definitely do that in the future.

OP posts:
Clarinet1 · 23/07/2025 20:31

Well you know the old joke -
Q - What’s the difference between a doctor and God?
A - God doesn’t think He’s a doctor!

PearlsMaybe · 23/07/2025 20:31

I get in this situation a lot but I think that "politeness" is mostly in the tone of voice.

There are many different ways to say "can I speak now" and it's the tone of voice that makes the difference.

OP - maybe you could record yourself having a conversation with a family member and compare your tone of voice to a public figure that you really respect. Perhaps someone like Michael Parkinson Michael Aspel. They are really emolient characters. Perhaps you could try to pick up some of their gentle tone so you can interrupt and get your say without getting in difficulties with stressed medics.

JayJayj · 23/07/2025 20:30

You should definitely complain. That’s absolutely out of order. Doesn’t matter if you’ve had worse.