Korean Job Discussion Forums

519forlife · Joined: 26 Sep 2006

I went to the hospital and the doctor didn't even want to hear my questions, he just gave me a shot in the butt and said to come back in 3 days for another, he had good English skills so he could have told me what was going on but just brushed me off. Why is that is it the cultural differences?

The_Eyeball_Kid · Joined: 20 Jun 2007

kermo

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

It has happened to me several times, but I've been here a while. I chalk it up to a sense of entitlement, an affront ('How dare he question me!') and/or a fear of being asked to actually explain something (even in Korean to a Korean), and not being able to.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I find Korean doctors to usually be pleasant, and I go to doctors a lot.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

I've been to three different doctors here and all three have been quite pleasant.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Like most of the others, nearly all the doctors I've dealt with have been friendly and happy to explain what was going on...but there was one (from Severance) who was a total jerk. He was visibly offended when I asked him the details of the surgery he was proposing.

Ultimately, he did the surgery and 6 weeks later I had to have another doctor repeat the surgery because the first one didn't complete the job. My conclusion was always that the insecure ones don't like questions because they take it as an afront to their less-than optimum skills.

boatofcar · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Location: Sheffield, UK

I like my doctor here.

Alyallen · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:01 am Post subject:

Atavistic · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:04 am Post subject:

It's much harder to find a GOOD doctor here than back home in my experience. I've been to countless doctors (moved a lot) and only TWO ever asked me if I had any drug allergies. Ask them what the hell is in the butt shot or packet of five pills they give you and most of them clam up. Ask them ANY sort of question about your health and they act like you've offended them somehow.

I had one doctor say I had unknowingly been infected with Hep (A I think). I said, "I had a vaccine for that, is that what's showing up on the blood test?"

"NO! NO VACCINE! You've had Hep!"

I call bullshit on that doc.

OP, I feel you. Most doctors here are shit.

Homer · Guest

boatofcar · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Location: Sheffield, UK

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Like in Elem. school, the prinvipal is considered big shot number 1.
Many hospitals, especially bigger ones, can have doctors and nurses walking about like big shots who own the place.

In Korea it's considered OK by some old fashioned people to treat people younger, foreign or a lesser job with total contempt.
It can be ignored that you are even a human being.

But more than half the people you meet are fantastic people.

Look for a recommended hospital which puts patients as important customers, and not a hospital which doctors and nurses use as a platform for their outdated ideology.
Many nice doctors out there too.

The rest of the world is the same, to differing extents.

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

my aunt died of breast cancer thanks to a doctor who was too stupid or lazy to do a mamogram on a lump. After that, all regard to doctors as "gods" went in the bin. If I ever get a doctor with a god complex, I'll just assume he's too stupid to know he's not a god, and will find another doctor.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

I think Hanson's right. My first year, a doctor gave me those colorful, yet unidentified packets of pills.
I was asking what each was and what it was for. My Korean coworker looked horrified and said, "Don't question the doctor."