35+ People Share Red Flags They Noticed About Their Doctor That Made Them Run

Everyone knows that in the age of the internet, googling your symptoms when you’re feeling sick is about the worst thing you could ever do — because online, every little sniffle turns into something way more serious with just a few quick clicks.

So, having a doctor tell you to do it is absolutely baffling, and in this case, his approach definitely feels like negligence. This is far from the considerate care you’re supposed to get at an appointment. We wouldn’t come back either.

Medicine is often more art than science — with a disease manifesting differently in some patients, and each one of them reacting differently to treatments or medications, it takes a lot of creativity to heal someone. Running down a checklist just isn’t enough.

So, going through the motions of treatment without actually listening to what a patient says is just bad medicine. This type of doctor should definitely throw away the mental script and actually communicate with their patients.

This happens annoyingly often, especially to young women who go to their appointments with a husband or father. Sometimes, they find themselves having to deal with a misogynist doctor who completely refuses to acknowledge that the woman is the patient.

The fact that physically moving into the doctor’s line of sight didn’t even help is just annoying. Regardless of the patient’s gender, if your doctor only talks to the other person in the room while they’re treating you, run! That’s not only rude, but it’s also extremely unprofessional!

A good doctor takes the time to listen fully to what a patient is feeling. Only after they’ve asked some follow-up questions should they start diagnosing. Sadly, not all doctors do this, and when they don’t, it’s 100% a red flag!

This medical professional absolutely gets that and makes sure that the doctors and nurses in their clinic at least know to never assume. Instead, they listen and test, and don’t come to a conclusion before they have all the necessary information.

It’s a doctor’s job to be worried about you. While it might be a bit annoying, that caring can sometimes come across as a reprimand to take better care of yourself. But, that’s pretty standard — and it’s okay when it comes from your regular doctor.

However, this doctor was just being a jerk when she blamed the patient for a perfectly natural thing, like getting sick. While it’s important to judge what’s wrong with a patient to treat them, it’s definitely not okay to be judgmental towards them!

Okay, we’ve got to be honest… the chubbier the baby, the cuter they are! We just can’t help but want to squish those adorably round faces. There really isn’t such a thing as “too chubby” when it comes to newborns.

It’s a good thing those parents realized their pediatrician was concerned about the wrong thing. That first check-up should have been sweet and exciting — as the doctor is supposed to check that the baby is happy, healthy, and responsive. We’re so glad they decided to go with a different doctor!

Being a doctor is really stressful, especially when you work impossibly long and busy shifts at the ER, and you have about a million patients to take care of. But, no matter how exhausted and annoyed a doctor is, it’s never okay for them to take it out on a patient.

The way this doctor completely flipped personalities on the poster is absolutely terrible. No one deserves to be yelled at, especially when they’re already in quite a bit of pain. The red flag this behavior is raising is absolutely massive!

Mental illnesses, like any other illness, deserve proper and respectful medical care. Thankfully, in recent years, more attention has been paid to mental health and how common these illnesses can be. But, this doctor definitely hasn’t caught up with the times.

We would be as upset and angry as this poster if our doctor had laughed in our face and claimed we were feeling perfectly fine when we absolutely were not well! That’s just not how a medical professional should act. Ever!

Going to the doctor to get diagnosed and treated is great and all, but it’s just as important to understand what’s actually going on with your body. The best way to do that is to ask lots of questions and, more importantly, get answers.

A doctor who wouldn’t answer anything is absolutely a red flag! Beyond the fact that it’s really not nice, it’s also extremely unprofessional and unethical to leave your patient anxiously ignorant about their own health.

Asthma can be a terrible condition to have. Just imagine trying to take a deep breath and being completely unable to do so. Horrible! Luckily, thanks to devoted doctors and scientists, there’s a really easy solution for it — the wonderful inhaler!

So, why this doctor couldn’t come in for even a second and give this guy this life-saving device is simply beyond us. But, really, the cherry on top of an already terrible cake was the fact that his response was just, “Oops!”

Spinal taps are no joke — getting fluids out of your spine is a serious medical procedure that should be only conducted by the most well-trained doctors out there. It should definitely not be done by some inexperienced doctor who doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Especially when the patient is an already scared kid. As one of the commentators on this post said, hearing your doctor say “Oops” is probably the least reassuring thing you could possibly hear come out of their mouth.

Going to the doctor comes with a whole heap of bureaucracy — dealing with the health provider, the insurance, the clinic, and, finally, the doctors. It can take a ton of effort and time for the patient to even get an appointment.

That patient should then be able to fully utilize that meeting to cover everything that they’re concerned about. It’s also a great opportunity to have any medical questions answered. So, a doctor who won’t give you that time and patience is absolutely a red flag!

A diagnosis could change the course of the rest of your life, especially when it has to do with the Big C. So, doctors better be 100% sure what the problem is before telling their patients they might have only a short time to live.

This “mix-up” could have ended absolutely terribly (and just imagine how the real sick patient felt when they were told the truth). It’s a good thing this woman hadn’t made any life-altering decisions because of this stupid mistake. Oh, wait…

When you’re in pain and a doctor tells you that there’s nothing wrong, it can be both encouraging and discouraging. On the one hand, you’re apparently fine. On the other, you’re still hurting. Sometimes, though, like in this case, the doctor is just really wrong!

This is why self-advocacy and trusting yourself are so important — if you know something’s wrong but the doctor completely dismisses it, get a second opinion. This doctor’s irresponsible diagnosis could have seriously harmed this poster’s recovery if they had done nothing because of him.

Having surgery — even when it’s elective — is probably one of the scariest and most serious medical procedures you can get, especially when you literally put your life in the hands of a surgeon.

In order to trust someone to that level, they need to be really good at their job and have very steady hands. A surgeon with a tremor or even a slight tremble definitely doesn’t boost one’s confidence.

While there are doctors we specifically pay to simply listen to our problems, we go to many of them to fix our physical pains and aches. But, in order for them to do that effectively, they still have to listen at least a little.

A doctor who refuses to listen and keeps interrupting certainly makes us feel like they don’t actually care what’s wrong with us. What if we had a headache but the doctor wasn’t listening and treated us for a stomachache? That would be terrible!

Nurses and administrators are incredibly important parts of a fully functioning medical clinic. They make sure that everything runs smoothly and that the doctors have all the support they need. A doctor who forgets that isn’t only a jerk, but they’re an idiot too.

Seeing a doctor treat their staff well is definitely a green flag because it shows that they’re a compassionate person and a team player. A doctor who’s mean and egotistical toward their supportive staff is absolutely one we would run from.

Doctors in the ER probably don’t have much time to chat and connect with their patients (and that’s okay when you consider their crazy workload). Medical practitioners in a clinic, though — especially the family doctor — should absolutely take the time to know their patients.

If a personal doctor doesn’t know what goes on in a patient’s life (at least the basic and surface details), how can they effectively notice when something has changed? Creating a relationship based on connection and trust is just as important to helping a patient as knowing the medical staff.

This red flag definitely falls under the “assumptions” category. This kind of behavior can often happen when a doctor refuses to really listen and instead, reaches a conclusion in their mind that’s based on their perceived view of their patient.

Also, these kinds of leading questions don’t really allow the patients to fully express themselves. In fact, this line of inquiry just goes to show that the doctor has already answered the question themselves before they even asked anything. That’s just not how science (and medicine work).

Neurodivergence refers to people with brains that function, in some ways, differently than the considered standard — like ADHD, ADD, Autism, and many others. In the past, people with neurodiversity were considered dumb or incapable.

Thankfully, nowadays, a lot more research has been conducted. More and more people understand that neurodiversity simply means people who think and function differently (which can lead to all sorts of innovations). Sadly, some doctors seem to be stuck in the past.

There are quite a few advantages to going to the same doctor for years — usually, it means they know you and your health issues pretty well and can help tailor the treatment to your routine and specifications.

It can also help them monitor any progress or regression through time and adjust accordingly. This just can’t happen, however, when your clinic is like a revolving door of doctors that constantly change. Health requires stability.

Emergency care is a whole lot more expensive and complicated than preventative care. That basically means that it’s usually better to treat an issue when it’s just starting (or even before it does, if possible).

Cases like this post almost make you think that these doctors did this on purpose to get more money out of the poor, aching patient. In this case, neither the patient nor the doctors should have acted as if everything was perfectly fine.

When it comes to medical care, understanding on either side (patient and doctor) is vitally important — it really all begins and ends with good communication. That’s why it’s so crucial that a doctor knows how to speak at the levels of their patients.

Leaving a patient in the dark about their own diagnosis and treatment can cause them to not take their recovery seriously enough. This, in turn, can lead to some very unfortunate consequences. So, having a doctor that’s completely incomprehensible is definitely a red flag.

Even as a doctor, it’s okay not to know everything. In fact, it’s partially expected, as that’s why medical specialties exist. While a pediatrician is a wiz when it comes to common childhood illnesses, they’re not going to know everything about the digestive tract.

That’s why consultations are so important. A doctor who refuses to consult with their colleagues and claims to know everything should absolutely raise a few flags for you. We always appreciate a person who admits that they don’t know something — but still makes the effort to learn and/or consult for advice.

Big words are often used to confuse and impress people into believing that someone was smarter and more knowledgeable than they actually are. When someone actually knows what they’re talking about, they should be able to explain it simply and with ease.

So, a doctor who just keeps throwing big, complicated, and professional medical terms without making sure you know what they all mean should definitely be a red flag.

Life can be pretty unpredictable sometimes. There are all sorts of reasons why a doctor leaves one clinic and moves to another. Sometimes, it has to do with their personal lives, which is totally fine and shouldn’t raise any flags.

But, a doctor that’s constantly moving and changing practices is absolutely something to watch out for. If they can’t get along with their coworkers enough to stay, they probably wouldn’t be all that great at building long-lasting relationships with their patients.

While it might look all nice and fancy hanging on the clinic wall, a medical degree from an Ivy League school really doesn’t tell you all that much about your doctor’s abilities.

Their experience, bedside manner, and empathy mean a whole lot more when it comes to how competent they are. So, don’t be fooled by an ostentatious diploma or any other kind of status symbol.

As every woman probably knows from her latest gynological exam, when a doctor says it shouldn’t hurt, it absolutely will. A doctor who completely dismisses your pain and claims to know your body better than you do should raise at least a few flags.

To be fair, though, we do disagree with this post about the “need to be patient” thing. Medicine and treatment can be a long and difficult process, which does absolutely require patience. While it can be aggravating to hear that, it doesn’t make it untrue.

When you’re dealing with a difficult illness, the diagnostic process can be long and hard. It often forces you to jump between specialists and doctors to get tests done and questions answered. But, when someone is only looking at their little corner without taking into consideration everything else, mistakes can happen.

In those cases, if you’re not super on top of your own health, following an ignorant doctor’s prescription could be incredibly dangerous. So, a doctor who doesn’t take the time to check what’s going on is a big red flag!

Okay, this one might sound like a bit of a joke, and clearly, the poster meant it that way. Still, there’s definitely at least some truth to this. Would you really want to be treated in a place that couldn’t even keep a few measly plants alive?

Because we absolutely wouldn’t! Okay, the health of the office plants is usually the administrator’s domain. But, they’re still a kind of patient so if they’re not being treated well, how do we know we will be? Huge red flag here!

There are a ton of reasons for a doctor to touch their patients. After all, some of the best diagnostic tools in a doctor’s arsenal are their senses. So, having a pediatrician use their hands to check a patient isn’t necessarily a red flag.

But, a person’s gut instinct — especially when it comes to the treatment of their kids — should definitely bring up at least a few warning signals. In cases like this, it’s just better to listen to your instincts, just to be on the safe side.

Yes, usually, the simplest solution is the right one but that doesn’t mean that that’s always the case. The fact that this doctor automatically assumed that a 14-year-old kid had a monkey on her back is a pretty depressing first assumption.

So clearly, not a great doctor already. What’s worse — the fact that, even after the test showed she wasn’t using any illegal substances, the doctor didn’t even bother digging deeper to find the root of the problem. We’re just glad that a good doctor finally saw her and took care of the OP.

People with chronic illnesses have to be constantly aware of their condition so they can adjust accordingly. But, doctors who don’t look at the full picture and the context of the issue can end up causing a lot more damage.

It’s a good thing this poster’s dad is also diabetic and so, he knew how to advocate on behalf of his kid. This definitely shows that a doctor who only relies on test results and refuses to talk to their patients is a big red flag!

While you might not always need a second opinion to diagnose a sore throat, when it comes to life-threatening illnesses, you probably should check twice (just in case). Being in pain is bad enough.

But, having to deal with an incompetent and fatalistic doctor makes it so much more difficult. We know that medicine can be pretty open to interpretation, but this level of misdiagnosis is completely unacceptable and frightening.

Prejudice doctors are probably one of the biggest red flags you can have when it comes to medical care. A doctor who has already judged you based on your gender, age, or the color of your skin is never going to be able to give you the best medical treatment that you deserve.

This poster clearly had enough with her doctor dismissing her pain and treating her as if she was overreacting. It’s a good thing she finally went to a doctor who treated her with the respect and care that she deserves.

Medicine can be pretty complicated. On the one hand, many small issues that people complain about do just kind of disappear on their own. On the other hand, if something isn’t treated swiftly, it can keep hurting the patient for a long time.

But, if a problem like this doesn’t resolve itself in two weeks and the doctors still refuse to acknowledge it, then that’s a serious red flag. It really seems like these doctors just couldn’t be bothered until it became a medical crisis.

If there’s one thing a doctor should never (ever) do, it’s judge you for the problems you come with. When a doctor enters their clinic, they should leave their personal opinions and values at home. Especially, when those beliefs cross a serious line.

This guy should have his medical license revoked immediately — anyone who treats a young and scared teen in such a horrifying and disgusting manner should be thrown out of the medical community as soon as humanly possible. This is about a million red flags!

If there’s one thing you want your doctor to be, it’s mature. Or, at least, mature enough to call things by their proper names instead of using juvenile euphemisms. A doctor who can’t even talk about a woman’s chest without squirming is going to run into quite a bit of trouble.

Especially when they have to start talking about more intimate areas. We’re not surprised that this doctor had quite a few complaints stacked up against him. We definitely wouldn’t want someone so childish taking care of our health.

Some medical procedures can be incredibly invasive and uncomfortable, but they’re usually pretty necessary. So, you kind of do what you have to, to get it over with as quickly as humanly possible.

But, having an audience for such an intimate procedure would certainly be traumatic and horrible. Look, we know med students have to learn somehow, but the fact that the doctor didn’t even attempt to ask for his patient’s consent is a massive red flag for us!

There’s a popular saying in scientific circles — think horses, not zebras. It basically means, the more common, simple solution is most often right. But, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you have to make sure it really isn’t a zebra before you cling to the easiest solution.

Because stories like the one in this post happen exactly when a doctor stops looking and thinking, and just assumes. So, two lessons learned here — keep advocating for yourself with a doctor, and get a second opinion!

We’ve heard quite a few stories of doctors overdoing in with testing for things, even when they’re kind of unnecessary, just to be on the safe side. That’s fine, erring on the side of caution is usually better.

Although, this post might change our minds about that. There’s really no reason to go probing in places where the sun don’t shine when the patient comes in complaining about a twisted ankle. If this doesn’t raise a red flag for you, we don’t know what will!

This post actually comes from a med student, so we’re definitely going to take their word for it. It does make sense that for some specialized tests, the patients are sent somewhere with the necessary facilities.

But, if you’re being sent to a whole other location just to get a simple throat swab or urine test, you might want to rethink going to that doctor again. We would definitely add that to our red flag list.

Everybody hates going to the dentist, right? It really isn’t the dentist’s fault that they chose one of the medical fields that basically everyone wants to avoid. But, this poster’s experience definitely makes us never want to see a dentist ever again.

She’s not only unprofessional for failing to listen to her patient when they told her something might be wrong, but it was also extremely negligent of her to start the procedure before she made sure her patient’s mouth was numb. Ouch!

Being completely dismissed when you’re in terrible pain is a horrible feeling, especially when it happens multiple times. Even more so when the doctor dismisses your concerns simply because they can’t fathom that someone so young could be in such pain.

Having to fight with your doctor over and over again to get a test done when you’re in excruciating pain is definitely a red flag in our book. We’re just glad he finally got diagnosed and treated properly, even though it’s probably a long road ahead.

Alright, so it’s definitely vital for a doctor to be super smart and know a ton of medical things for them to help their patients. But, they can’t just spew diagnoses like a robot. A doctor’s humanity and empathy are sometimes more important than their knowledge.

Empathy, according to this med student, is what makes a doctor great. It stops them from humiliating or making their patient feel uncomfortable. It also makes them care about their patients’ immediate pain and not just the long-term treatment. In any case, every doctor should remember to be human first.