I agree with you -- but, sadly, a lot of older patients are especially
vulnerable to this sort of thing, and it can be much more difficult for
them to acquire the level of knowledge and empowerment that most of us here
have.  Folks in our parents' generation are less likely to critically
evaluate what doctors tell them.  And if they don't have an advocate who
can help them, then they're one bad doc away from a rough ride.  

My mother's doc -- whom she has since fired -- had her on Fosamax, knowing
full well that she had an hiatal hernia.  He never bothered to do the
research to learn that one does not do that, and she didn't know how to go
about questioning the prescription.  

Happily, there are plenty of exceptions.  By the way:  to all the docs
lurking on this NG:  don't even think about bullying my mother-in-law into
treatment she doesn't need -- she will hurt you, and then you'll have to
deal with her daughter and son-in-law.  :-)

--charlie

Dr. Peddada is my radonc, and works closely with my urologist/surgeon.  I
met with both of them several times when my PSA went from 0 to .05 after 3
years.  They both recommended I undergo IMRT - which I did, and again have
a PSA that is undetectable.

Peddada is Director of the San Jose Good Sam Radiation Oncology Dept. and
also head of the hospital’s Cancer Care Committee.  I am sure he is very
busy.  But he spent hours with spouse and myself discussing options,
answering questions.  By the time I made my decision, I was very
comfortable with it and with the hands I was in.

When I was in high school and college I knew a number
of fellows who planned to become doctors.  I think that
more than half of them had no calling to medicine whatever,
they just wanted the respect, and especially the money,
that doctors get.

It's sad but, unfortunately, there are many people who have
no calling to do anything whatever.  Any job they get is
"just a job", a way to make money rather than to do something
they like and/or believe in.

However at least most of those folks aren't criminals.  They
don't burn people with x-rays or cut them with scalpels just
in order to steal money from their insurance companies.
Even self-respecting armed robbers won't actually hurt you
if you just give them the money they demand.

   Alan

I cannot recall an exception to this rule, regardless of occupation or
vocation.

It seem true also for the use of alcohol, though I have seen nice guys turn
into a.sholes.

I wonder if there has been a study on age.  I found that I have reduced my
incidents of being an a.shole some 28.3% since turning 50.