The director of law enforcement at an international airport made a
statement regarding victimization that has stuck with me all these
years:

"If you look like food, you're going to be eaten."

As a suggestion to soon to be moms:  make the initial prenatal appoint-
ment with their husband or significant other.  My husband and I
portrayed
a united front in what we wanted before such a thing as a "birth plan"
even had a name.  We knew what we would reject outright.  We were not
going to be bullied and we were not.

The physician bullying that has been posted is probably their reaction
to the lack of control they have over their own practices due to HMO
constraints.  Their staff people often mirror the tension as do children
in a family.  Of course, it's no excuse.

Doctors in the US today say they'd never encourage their children go
into medicine.  How happy does that make them and won't it affect
patient
care?  Many feel they've made a mistake in career choice and can't wait
to retire, whether they can sell their practice or just close it down.
My doctor just retired and in his letter cited how he couldn't work
within the system any longer.

I've told clients over the years that medicine used to be a calling,
similar to the ministry.  Many viewed it as a way to make a lot of
money.
Since the dynamics with health insurance has changed, that no longer is
the case.

Judy Ritchie

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