If you feel as ifyour providerhas insulted you, there may be some steps you need to take. Providers, like your doctor, nurse,nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, medical assistant, even the billing clerk or receptionist in your healthcare provider’s office or the hospital, are professionals, but they are people, too.
Before you take steps to deal with insulting behavior from a medical provider, be sure you understand why a provider might insult you. It will help you decide whether you should do something about it.
Determine the Intent of the Insult
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Insults have two sides to them:
It’s important to understand that an insult is in the ears (or eyes) of the beholder. Just because you feel insulted doesn’t mean the person who spoke or wrote the insult intentionally meant to say or do something to hurt or annoy you. Anyone is capable of saying or doing things that are rude or insulting without meaning to come across that way.
Understand that there are degrees of insults, too. At one end of the spectrum, an insult may only reflect someone’s really lousy, exhausting day that caused them to say or do something insulting. At the other end of that spectrum is a bully who uses insults as intentional intimidation. Neither scenario is acceptable from a medical professional.
If you or a loved one feels as if you have been insulted, you first need to assess whether that was the intent.
Your next steps will be based on whether or not there was the intent.
Questions to Determine Intent
Your Provider Insults You Unintentionally
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If you determine that the person who insulted you or a loved one probably did not intend to do so, you have a few choices.
Your Provider Insults You and You Believe It Was Intentional
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If you determine that the person who insulted you or your loved one intentionally, you have a few choices. The keys here are to get the behavior to stop and to try to be sure it won’t happen again to you, or to others.
Documenting the Insult
If you have experienced an intended insult, take these steps to notify the practice manager.
If You Complain but No Action Is Taken
Change healthcare providers, leave the practice, or choose a different hospital or testing center if no action is taken. Lack of respect or response to your complaint is a further indication of how it was you could have been insulted and indicates that it could happen again.
If you feel your treatment, verbal or physical, was abusive, and it could have a negative effect on other patients, then you may want to file a more formal, written complaint to authorities who license or hire the healthcare provider.
Respectful communication is required in all healthcare interactions. Don’t settle for anything less.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile you can report a doctor for being rude, it might not be the best way to handle the situation. Hospital staff are placed under a great deal of pressure along with long work days. It’s possible that the rude behavior was unintentional or not directed at you. If rudeness is consistent or expected, it might be worth having a conversation about why it occurs. If things don’t appear to be getting better, consider seeing a different healthcare provider or switching to a different practice.When responding to a rude patient, it may be wise to follow the advice of the Code of Medical Ethics, which recommends offering the patient to transfer to a different physician. If there is a lack of mutual respect between a person and their doctor, they may be better off seeking assistance from someone else. The Code of Medical Ethics also mentions that certain language can cause psychological harm, and recommends treating each patient with compassion and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you can report a doctor for being rude, it might not be the best way to handle the situation. Hospital staff are placed under a great deal of pressure along with long work days. It’s possible that the rude behavior was unintentional or not directed at you. If rudeness is consistent or expected, it might be worth having a conversation about why it occurs. If things don’t appear to be getting better, consider seeing a different healthcare provider or switching to a different practice.
When responding to a rude patient, it may be wise to follow the advice of the Code of Medical Ethics, which recommends offering the patient to transfer to a different physician. If there is a lack of mutual respect between a person and their doctor, they may be better off seeking assistance from someone else. The Code of Medical Ethics also mentions that certain language can cause psychological harm, and recommends treating each patient with compassion and respect.
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Medical Association (AMA).The Do’s and Don’ts of Calling Out a Patient’s Bad Behavior.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Medical Association (AMA).The Do’s and Don’ts of Calling Out a Patient’s Bad Behavior.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Medical Association (AMA).The Do’s and Don’ts of Calling Out a Patient’s Bad Behavior.
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