I need a good Doctor

In this consultation a new patient himself with a letter from his previous doctor, whom he was seeing privately , in which is outlined in the previous treatment which had very little therapeutic basis. The patient is anxious to continue with this bogus treatment, and the problem facing the new doctor is how to maintain the patient’s confidence and gain his respect without denigrating his previous doctor’s treatment. 

The story unfolds that the patient, whilst at Cambridge, had difficulty in finding a doctor with whom he had a sympathetic understanding. However, he eventually alighted upon his private doctor, who had a tremendous reputation. The doctor didn’t believe in tests but was “very Positive”, obviously excluding confidence, and gave the patient Vitamin B12, Valium and Thyroid extract.

The new doctor is reluctant to carry on this rather dangerous mixture and the interaction centres round whether he will or will not prescribe. He eventually reaches a compromise that he will prescribe some of the drugs on a reduced dosage and instigate some tests, and reviews the patient again shortly. This stratagem appears to meet with the patient’s approval.