Small study but interesting reading. A couple of the take homes for me were that AF with mood disorder may be best managed by ablation, and that cardiologists need to pay attention to the bigger picture.
The same could be said for most hospital specialists, but in my experience cardiologists are amongst the worst offenders.
Never mind cardiologists ANY doctor would benefit. We know from research that empathic doctors get better results. So many seem to have had a charisma bypass at medical school.
I wonder if some doctors choose to be disliked. I know a GP who said he had to stop being so nice because he was getting overloaded by patients asking to see him. Pity they couldn't just clone him! Or get all the other doctors on a course at charm school 😀
I’ve seen my share of arrogant consultants both as a patient and a medical secretary. I think it is their way of coping with difficult and distressing situations, especially when prognosis is uncertain. Arrogance becomes their default mode.
I had one cardiologist whose attitude made me delay getting treatment with almost disastrous consequences. I wish I had asked to change much earlier than I did.
I agree, I actually tried to discuss this with my cardiologist yesterday. Since my AF came back (after 1 ablation) my mood and anxiety has been through the roof. He paid no attention to that, only physical symptoms.
Have you read about Rangan Chatterjee?
Watch this - youtube.com/watch?v=tfR445y...
Thanks Japaholic, not come across him but will follow up. Can’t get the link to work at the moment.
If a medic is brusque, arrogant, difficult or takes no account of emotional aspects I won't see them again, full stop.
I must be one of the rare one, my GP was very helpful and concerned about my AF problems and referred me to my local hospital to see my cardiologist, he was a pleasantly caring man who put me on different meds which helped for a while, then referred me to my EP in Bristol a Dr Barman who again I can say was very nice, so there are some good ones out there.
I know I have told this story before but for relative newbies here we go. Many years ago I had some wrist problem (NO FJ not that!) and had to see a consultant at the the local hospital. Whilst waiting I repeatedly heard him shouting insultingly at each patent from the cubicle he was using. When it was my turn to COME! i walked in shook his hand and said "Good morning Mr KIng now we are not going to shout at each other are we". He was a pussycat.
That happened to me when I still lived in Brum. I had been referred for a back problem. I could hear the doctor in the next cubicle lambasting the poor woman he was examining for being obese and telling her she needed to take more exercise and that would help her back. He was really nasty. When he came into my cubicle I was gobsmacked. Talk about hypocrisy! He looked like a heart attack in waiting with at least 3 chins.
St George’s Tooting bec
EP or cardiologist? 
Another request for a London Hospital Recommendation
AF Association chats with Cleveland Clinic Cardiologists and Electrophysiologist 
Failed cardioversion
