The Doctor Will See You Now — But He’s Only 12 Years Old
Shouldn’t puberty be a requirement for entering medical school?
Why am I suddenly seeing 12-year-old doctors?
I am aware that there are child prodigies in the world. Hell, we had one in my own family. She was so smart that the 1950s school system didn’t know what to do with her. They kept advancing her from grade to grade until she entered the University of California, Berkley at the age of 15, earned enough degrees at various other colleges to have half the alphabet after her name, and became a professor of medicine at New York’s Cornell University.
Don’t tell me it’s my skewed perception. Don’t tell me that now that I am beginning to look every one of my 75 years that everyone else looks younger. They are younger. Too young to be practicing medicine on me.
Four years ago, a series of issues sent me to the ER. I was examined by Doogie Howser, MD, who ran some tests and said I had heart issues that I should take up with my cardiologist.
For those of you too young to remember the 1990s TV show about a teenage genius physician named Doogie Howser, you may be more familiar with the recent TV show, The Good Doctor, about another teenage genius physician.
When I informed my youngster ER physician that I didn’t have a cardiologist, he didn’t hide his displeasure, telling me that a woman “my age” should have a cardiologist.
My Primary physician recommended a local cardiologist. Upon meeting him, I was struck by how welcoming, friendly, and unpretentious he was. Also that he must have been brilliant because he didn’t look old enough to have graduated high school.
He ordered a series of tests and made an appointment for us to discuss them in his office. I believe it’s best to have someone with you when you discuss test results with a doctor because nerves, a general lack of understanding of medical terms, and forgetfulness can cause misunderstandings. Having a second set of ears is never a bad thing.
My husband and I always accompanied each other to doctor appointments, but since Sid’s death, I was on my own for the first time in four decades.
I asked my best friend of 65 years to accompany me. She was a true child prodigy, is as close to genius as you can get, and has been a doctor for over 30 years.
My friend and the doctor chatted about their medical backgrounds. He explained the test results, which she translated for me.
She then asked him straight out — “Just how old are you?”
He wasn’t easily offended and answered immediately –36. “36!”, we both squealed. “We’re twice as old as you.”
Unfortunately, I was in and out of the hospital multiple times between 2019 and 2021. Not one of the blood technicians who woke me up at 5 am to extract their daily quota of blood could have reached puberty.
Maybe I’m biased, but it’s my opinion that medical facilities should have an age limit for hiring medical professionals. I mean, having completed puberty should be a requirement, shouldn’t it?
Is there suddenly a preponderance of brilliant prodigy children graduating from our schools and heading straight to medical schools, graduating with medical degrees at the ages of 12 –18?
How else to explain the skateboarding crowd entering your hospital room armed with stethoscopes, needles, and EKG machines?
And honestly, why aren’t they taught to speak above a whisper? Is it because their voices haven’t reached maturity yet?
Don’t tell me it’s my hearing that is failing. 20 years ago, doctors spoke loudly enough to be heard and were old enough to legally order alcoholic beverages instead of juice boxes at the local bar after work.
What is this world coming to? Pre-pubescent doctors whose voices haven’t matured enough to be heard. Appalling.
Where is Dr. Marcus Welby when you need him? Click the link if you’re too young to know who Dr. Welby is.
©Joan Gershman 2023
Want unlimited access to all my stories — Click this link:
I get a small portion of your membership fee at no extra cost to you.
