When you meet with your doctor, do they actually listen to you? Or do they just interrupt you as you are trying to talk about your condition, your symptoms or your concerns?
Studies find that doctors interrupting their patients is actually fairly common. In one study, doctors would interrupt after a median of just 11 seconds.
The specific reason they would do so would vary. For instance, a doctor may interrupt just to clarify a point or gather more information, so they could see this as a positive thing. But there is also the potential for negative ramifications. If a doctor is interrupting the patient, are they actually getting all of the information they need to offer proper treatment?
Mistakes and malpractice
In this light, the trouble with doctors not listening to their patients is that they could make avoidable errors or mistakes. A doctor could recommend a treatment or a type of medication that is not necessary or is not right for the situation. If they would have just taken more time to listen to what the person had to say, they may have offered far better care.
Interrupting patients could also mean that doctors get an incomplete account that causes them to miss something obvious. Perhaps a patient has developed cancer, but there is a delayed diagnosis because the doctor does not realize all of the symptoms the patient has. The reason the doctor missed certain symptoms is that they did not listen carefully to that patient at the appointment, or they would have had the information necessary to make a diagnosis sooner.
If you believe a medical professional acted negligently and made avoidable mistakes that caused you harm, you may have a right to seek compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.