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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want say to the Dr "what are you laughing at?"!!

22 replies

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 13:07

I am feeling pretty poorly at the mo with a recently diagnosed heart condition. My medication had become ineffective at controlling the symptoms this week so I went to the Dr to talk about it. My own (fabulous) GP was on holiday so I saw another Dr that I've never met.

He conducted the entire consultation with a sneer on his face as if he had read something funny, embarrassing, whatever on my notes -which had up on his computer. He was literally looking at me and smiling, holding his hand over his mouth as if to cover his expression the entire time! It was absolutely bizarre. It made me feel really awkward and self conscious especially since he coupled this with being very dismissive. I cannot think for the life of me what embarrassing things could be contained in my probably very boring medical notes aside from having piles years ago!

In fairness he did sort out my medication!

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diddl · 27/03/2012 13:12

Maybe it´s a nervous habit & he doesn´t realise?

I think that you should have said something tbh.

Isn´t if often the way that those with the brains to be in the medical profession don´t have the people skills?

That said, I´d rather someone knows what they are doing!

RevoltingPeasant · 27/03/2012 13:12

I would just say, politely and very mildly, 'Sorry, is something funny?' and just keep holding eye contact.

It will probably abash him into something like professional behaviour. Or at least let him know you noticed.

And you shouldn't be grateful for him prescribing the right meds - that's his job! Would hate to think what he'd be like with someone with a genuinely embarrassing issue, like incontinence.

CupcakesAndBunting · 27/03/2012 13:14

Probs fancies you and was imagining chasing you around the surgery in a Carry On, Doctor fashion.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 13:14

That's what my DP said diddl. I nearly said something but because I was feeling very ill and low I wasn't sure I could trust myself to say it without crying or getting really cross!

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StripyMagicDragon · 27/03/2012 13:15

Maybe he was having a smile at something funny that happened just before you came in? Or he was nervous? Or he had a weird "friendly smile" face?

It's probably not you he was smirking at, I'm sure. But it would have made me wonder as well, and I probably would have said something.

mmmerangue · 27/03/2012 13:15

'In fairness' he did his job, all the while being weirdly unprofessional? I would have said something! How rude! Or maybe he's on drugs.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 13:17

cupcakes!!!!!

It has made me a bit paranoid! When I see my own GP I feel like asking her if there is anything funny on my notes! She did tell me that there was an "unhelpful" letter from one of the cardiologists a few months ago but I cannot think of anything that I said or did in hospital to warrant him saying anything rude about me, I only met him for about 10 mins!

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jenfraggle · 27/03/2012 13:24

I really don't like my doctor, he comes across as so smarmy. It's a shame as before I moved to a different area I always had nice doctors. I get the impression that this one just isn't interested and thinks that whatever reason I've come to see him, I'm wasting his time.

At least your normal doctor is nice, hopefully you won't have to see this one again

mayaswell · 27/03/2012 13:28

I think it's very unlikely it's anything to do with you or your appointment, most likely something funny that is completely unrelated. I would call the practice manager, explain exactly what happened and say how it made you feel. He could find himself with a serious complaint on his hands if he does it to someone else. If you're going to be seeing lots of medics you need to feel comfortable and secure in their care.

Floggingmolly · 27/03/2012 13:31

YABU not to have said it. How could you sit there and not ask him what the hell he was smirking at?

Nomoremrtumble · 27/03/2012 13:59

I once got asked what I was sneering at by a patient during my GP training. I was mortified! I thought I had an open, friendly, you can ask me anything type exression on ....clearly not!

I doubt it was anything in your notes OP - honestly. More likely something that happened before or extreme shyness. A bit rubbish though. Hope the new meds improve things for you.

Snakeonaplane · 27/03/2012 14:03

More likely he read something online before you came in, my friend google chats me whilst I'm in clinic sometimes, could also be a text he received, very unprofessional of him to react like this, he could have excused himself for a minute.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 14:14

Thanks all! You are so lovely and funny!

jenfraggle I know just what you mean. During the run up to all this being diagnosed I met mostly absolutely amazing nurses and Drs but the odd one or two were incredibly rude and offhand (one registrar coming and telling me in the middle of the night that "i actually think you are imagining these symptoms and want to send you home....your cardiologist disagrees with me"!!! Thank god for my cardiologist!

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SuePurblybilt · 27/03/2012 14:16

Maybe he was knackered and trying not to yawn? That can sort of twist your face up like a sneer iyswim? Or holding in a sneeze.

MrsBeakman · 27/03/2012 14:23

That is bizarre, but i don't think it would have been anything on your notes. His pal had probably just emailed him a funny joke. Maybe he had just seen the "Benton!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus Christ!" viral clip for the first time or something. Obviously he shouldn't have been laughing during the consultation, but maybe the more you try and stifle a laugh the more you want to laugh.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 14:26

True MrsBeakman. I really wish I had asked him now! Just didn't want to come acoss as paranoid!

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Ilovedaintynuts · 27/03/2012 14:28

I had a work colleague who used ask me all the time what I was smirking at... I actually assumed I had a miserable face - think ' smile love it might never happen'.
She was crackers though.

EasyOnTheChips · 27/03/2012 14:31

I would have a word at the surgery TBH. I don't care if he'd just hgad to do a consultation with Lee Evans and Michael McIntyre who had both managed to get a mug of hot tea stuck up their arses, it is unprofessional in the extreme to be sneering/smirking/giggling while consulting with a patient. Shock

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 14:37

I once caught a glimpse of my notes and written in bold was LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP which I thought was interesting, accurate obviously and I later imagined could be useful for the Dr when talking to me about my family or sexual health or whatever. That's not particularly amusing though is it?

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EasyOnTheChips · 27/03/2012 14:47

WTF? Really?

Where is your Doctor? 1975?

MrsBeakman · 27/03/2012 15:58

Maybe ask to see your notes just to be sure. You have the right to do this I believe. LOL at consultation with Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, a bottom and a hot cup of tea.

MissVerinder · 27/03/2012 16:45

I second the something funny on the t'interweb idea.

Maybe someone forwarded him that video of a cat barking or something.

I'd still complain though, because that's not very nice.

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