Synopsis
Doctor God: Good, Bad, Indifferent offers insightful perspectives into the evolution of American healthcare, the making of both good and bad doctors, and the existence of what author Lorene McCormick Burkhart calls the “Dr. God” complex or “medical personality.”

Medicine has come a long way since the days of doctor house calls, when a trusted friend and professional would visit your home.  Today, when we are sick or in need of emergency care, we must travel to a clinic or hospital and often wait hours, dealing with insurance and accounting bureaucracy before receiving care.  If and when we see the doctor, we still have a perception of him or her as a revered individual who is invested in our well-being and our greatest gift—life.  However, increasingly we encounter doctors who have let their powerful positions go to their heads and appear to believe that they are larger than life itself—that they are “Dr. God.”  Whether it is a result of intense medical training, years of long hours and overwork, or patient and other professional experiences, a “Doctor God” personality can be unpleasant for coworkers and families; but for patients, it can be disastrous.

Doctor God: Good, Bad, Indifferent recalls the old joke, “What’s the difference between God and a doctor? God at least knows He’s not a doctor!” But author Burkhart knows that this topic is no laughing matter, especially as the practice of medicine has changed dramatically over the past century.  Although the general role of doctors has not changed, time has changed doctors, as well as patients.  We now have access to more medical knowledge and expect more and more out of our doctors and our healthcare system.  Doctor God: Good, Bad, Indifferent profiles many types of doctors, provides insight into how the “bad ones” came to be, and wraps with a glimpse at where we are headed in American healthcare and how we can make the most out of doctor-patient relationships in the future.