Like many here, I have an extremely negative view of Dutch health practitioners & the entire healthcare system - based on my own personal experiences and those around me.
Aside from the generally uncaring attitude which borders on negligent incompetence, there is often an attitude one encounters in dealing with Dutch healthcare ''professionals'' which is one of total condescendence towards their patients.
Of course there are exceptions..
To shed further personal insight on the topic - at one point during my stay here I was able to discuss some of these very subjects with a medical student (a foreigner) who was studying in Holland & I was informed that doctors here are trained by their tutors and senior instructors during their education & especially during residency, to be callous, aloof, act 'superior' and condescending towards their patients (!).
So it would appear this is the way its 'done' here..endemic to the entire system.
The Dutch might wish to one day take note of the American Medical Association list of practitioner ethics - in particular category 1:
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics (2001)
Preamble:
The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician.
A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.
III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.
A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health.
A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.
A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.
The Principles of Medical Ethics constitute the Preamble to the much longer Code of Medical Ethics. The Code of Medical Ethics and opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) may be found on the Code of Medical Ethics and CEJA Reports page.
American Medical Association
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Full Version: Dutch doctors & ethics - the inside view
Newsflash : This just in. You do not currently live in the USA and cannot expect that everything here be done "just like home".
QUOTE (exitstageleft @ May 27 2009, 02:48 PM) 
Like many here, I have an extremely negative view of Dutch health practitioners & the entire healthcare system - based on my own personal experiences and those around me.
Aside from the generally uncaring attitude which borders on negligent incompetence, there is often an attitude one encounters in dealing with Dutch healthcare ''professionals'' which is one of total condescendence towards their patients.
Of course there are exceptions..
To shed further personal insight on the topic - at one point during my stay here I was able to discuss some of these very subjects with a medical student (a foreigner) who was studying in Holland & I was informed that doctors here are trained by their tutors and senior instructors during their education & especially during residency, to be callous, aloof, act 'superior' and condescending towards their patients (!).
So it would appear this is the way its 'done' here..endemic to the entire system.
The Dutch might wish to one day take note of the American Medical Association list of practitioner ethics - in particular category 1:
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics (2001)
Preamble:
The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician.
A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.
III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.
A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health.
A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.
A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.
The Principles of Medical Ethics constitute the Preamble to the much longer Code of Medical Ethics. The Code of Medical Ethics and opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) may be found on the Code of Medical Ethics and CEJA Reports page.
American Medical Association
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Aside from the generally uncaring attitude which borders on negligent incompetence, there is often an attitude one encounters in dealing with Dutch healthcare ''professionals'' which is one of total condescendence towards their patients.
Of course there are exceptions..
To shed further personal insight on the topic - at one point during my stay here I was able to discuss some of these very subjects with a medical student (a foreigner) who was studying in Holland & I was informed that doctors here are trained by their tutors and senior instructors during their education & especially during residency, to be callous, aloof, act 'superior' and condescending towards their patients (!).
So it would appear this is the way its 'done' here..endemic to the entire system.
The Dutch might wish to one day take note of the American Medical Association list of practitioner ethics - in particular category 1:
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics (2001)
Preamble:
The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician.
A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.
III. A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
IV. A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
A physician shall, in the provision of appropriate patient care, except in emergencies, be free to choose whom to serve, with whom to associate, and the environment in which to provide medical care.
A physician shall recognize a responsibility to participate in activities contributing to the improvement of the community and the betterment of public health.
A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.
A physician shall support access to medical care for all people.
The Principles of Medical Ethics constitute the Preamble to the much longer Code of Medical Ethics. The Code of Medical Ethics and opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) may be found on the Code of Medical Ethics and CEJA Reports page.
American Medical Association
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
I suggest you read the equivalent Dutch code of conduct to compare.
exit...You're leaving -- what do you care?
And the rest of us that are already here are just as informed as you...Although they might not necessarily agree.
So are you getting all your frustrations off your chest before you explode or what?
BTW...I'd be concerned if all the Dutchies were dropping dead left and right on the streets, but I don't see that happening. I haven't encountered any drop in healthcare quality since leaving Canada, sorry...
And the rest of us that are already here are just as informed as you...Although they might not necessarily agree.
So are you getting all your frustrations off your chest before you explode or what?
BTW...I'd be concerned if all the Dutchies were dropping dead left and right on the streets, but I don't see that happening. I haven't encountered any drop in healthcare quality since leaving Canada, sorry...
As I said earlier: Exit will not "leave the stage" before spewing all the classics dead horses. 
Let's not get hysterical folks!
Let's not get hysterical folks!
Now that I think about it - I did once encounter a Dutch health practitioner who possessed a chipper & cheery demeanour, seemed to take an interest in their ''clients'' - freely sharing information and , quite stunningly, even admitted there were some things in their field they did not know.
Perhaps this was because they were in the higher echelons of service, being a specialist.
The enthusiasm soon waned and changed to obvious disappointment, however, once it became clear that surgical intervention was not necessary and they actually told me, with typical Dutch honestly, " I like to cut!''.
Perhaps this was because they were in the higher echelons of service, being a specialist.
The enthusiasm soon waned and changed to obvious disappointment, however, once it became clear that surgical intervention was not necessary and they actually told me, with typical Dutch honestly, " I like to cut!''.
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