‘‘Screw-ups’’ 111
patients’ words. Consequently, doctors can block their own receipt of
potentially valuable data. Pascal, the Lebanese internist, said:
Some physicians treat me like an idiot. They don’t consider me a
physician, and won’t listen completely. They don’t understand that
I need support psychologically. They blow me off: ‘‘There are
support groups you can go to. . . .’’ I had stomach aches that I knew
were gallstones, because I had studied it. My doctor said, ‘‘That’s
impossible. You’re a young man.’’ I said, ‘‘Just do me a favor: do an
ultrasound.’’ It was very difficult for her. But sure enough, I had
gallstones.
Such hubris can exacerbate doctors’ insensitivity to patient’s physical
pain. Deborah cried because of her surgeon’s gruff manner and the dis-
com