Doctors Without Arrogance

Photo credit: The Rising Nepal Ganesh P Paudel

Thu, 29 October 2026

Photo credit: The Rising Nepal Ganesh P Paudel

Thu, 29 October 2026

The relationship between doctors and patients is changing with the spread of artificial intelligence tools that can explain medical terms in seconds. Yet one thing should not change: a patient deserves to be treated with dignity, even when their questions are inconvenient or naive. A doctor’s expertise is essential, but it is unjust for doctors to wield it with arrogance. 

I was reminded of this by an experience I had at a well-known hospital in Kathmandu, more than a decade ago. I had gone to consult a doctor about a change following surgery that had persisted for several months. My OPD ticket placed me first in the queue, but the doctor arrived late and an aide allowed another patient into the room ahead of me. I politely pointed out that I was first. After a brief, unconvincing explanation, I waited. Then three more patients were allowed in one after another. The doctor could hear me protesting outside, and I was finally called in.

By then, the doctor seemed to be in a foul mood. I explained my concern and said I had searched online because the symptom appeared unusual. I had not come to the hospital to diagnose myself; I wanted professional advice and reassurance. Nevertheless, the doctor rebuked me for looking up medical information on the internet. I replied that I had done so out of curiosity and had come precisely to consult a professional rather than act on what I had read.