Aimeé
Going to the doctor can be a really frightening experience, especially when it’s not just a regular check up.
You might be in pain, or anxious, or exhausted, and the person in front of you has all this authority and all the power to help you get well—or worse.
Is it surprising that for some people, the doctor is the real problem?
That would explain the immense outpouring of love and gratitude that people feel for TikToker @ThatGayDoctor, who has been posting about his job and how he likes to interact with patients.
One of his most popular TikToks is about all the Google Doctors out there. That means the people who look up their symptoms on WebMD and think they have a medical degree. This doctor wants them to be taken seriously.
UM HELLO WHERE DO I FIND THIS KIND OF DOCTOR pic.twitter.com/9oRBoHSr7M
— jules rylan ✡︎ (@radiantbutch) February 2, 2021
“One of my favorite questions to ask patients at their appointment is, ‘What do you think is wrong? What do you think the diagnosis might be?'” he says in the short vid. “If you’re a Googler and you have a certain idea in your head about what might be wrong, I want to know that.”
“The reason I want to know that is because it might be accurate, and it might be something I didn’t consider,” he continues. “I also probably know a decent amount about that topic, and I can tell you what tests we have to order to either rule it in or rule it out.”
“If it’s something that is completely off base, it gives us a chance to talk about reasons why it’s probably not that diagnosis and ways that we know that,” he finished. “It’s important that you leave the office feeling like your concerns were heard. I don’t want you leaving thinking ‘Ugh, I’m worried it’s still this.’ Tell me!”
People are really astounded to hear a doctor speak so compassionately about patients who question him:
It’s sick how many medical & psych programs view patients as problems to be solved & not people to work with and listen to.
(MFTs & social workers: y’all programs do it too so don’t front. It’s just couched in flowery systemic language. Words that barely make it to practice)
— Muting/Blocking = Self Care (@QueeringPsych) February 2, 2021
They're hard to find, but I have one! She says I'm the specialist on the weird shit and she's there to coordinate everything and check my reasoning.
— rahaeli (@rahaeli) February 2, 2021
And like DAMN that was helpful in having a GP actually explain her reasoning and take me seriously as a patient instead of dismissing a concern out of hand.
— Darla (@basicnbizarre) February 2, 2021
it’s soo frustrating, i’m about to make a powerpoint to get them to listen to me. my one therapist said well you’re a social work major, and a lot of times we start self diagnosing ourself when we learn about things in class. umm? 1) i took like 3 classes so far and
— meghan (@meghhilton) February 3, 2021
One time I told my doc that I had strep throat cuz know what the shit feels like and she laughed and said “no sweetie it’s probably allergies”
So they ran flu and cold tests and the only one positive was strep. Bitch really then said “oh wow would you look at that!” https://t.co/DoFoAnJp5c— ❃ Maria ❃ (@MSteponabitch) February 5, 2021
I wish this was my doctor. I tried talking to mine about being tired all the time and having legit no energy and she said “some people are just like that” 🥲 https://t.co/evYleCn1wu
— lex (@lexplayes) February 3, 2021
BuzzFeed interviewed @ThatGayDoctor about the warm response:
“It makes me feel like I’m really making a difference,” he said. “I know a lot of medical students follow my accounts, so I hope they embody some of the approaches that I suggest in their future practices. I also hope it makes people feel like medical professionals can be approachable, lovable, funny humans, and that going to the doctor doesn’t have to be a scary experience!”
It doesn’t?
