23 Things Patients Do That Drive Doctors Crazy

    Want to annoy your physician? Bring them some poop in a leaky carrier bag.

    Hilary Mitchell
    by Hilary Mitchell

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Show up with an epic list of ailments.

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    Most general practice appointment slots are just 10 minutes long, which makes it hard to discuss 20 health issues. So please don't save them up for weeks.

    2. Decide you know more about medicine than we do.

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    "Doctor, I checked WebMD and I've got Hirschsprung-Yinglebork disease!" No, you don't. You have constipation and you need to accept that you just need some Senokot, a packet of figs, and a poo. Stop freaking out, it'll be OK.

    3. Don't have a wash before your appointment.

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    We might be doctors, but we have a sense of smell and a gag reflex. So do us a favour and wash your feet before asking us to check your ingrown toenail.

    4. Don't wear underwear to your consultation.

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    We just love being surprised by an unexpected dick or vagina.

    5. Lie about your symptoms.

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    When patients are convinced they've got a fictional, self-diagnosed illness, they often want to see a specialist – so they lie and claim they have symptoms that they don't have. It's frustrating and unfair to people who are genuinely unwell.

    6. Gripe about the other doctors in our surgery.

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    It's not like we're friends or work colleagues or anything.

    7. Do something really bloody stupid.

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    Injuries caused by pranks, stunts, and dares take up so much of our time, and they're completely avoidable. Just stop it. It's not worth the Facebook shares.

    8. Bring us stool samples in anything other than the airtight container we asked you to use.

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    That includes old takeaway containers, and leaky plastic bags. The horror.

    9. Show up late for an appointment.

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    Especially if you say something to justify it, like: "Well you lot are always running late and I didn't want to wait around for ages." That's...not how it works.

    10. Or don't bother showing up at all.

    11. Be rude or aggressive to our reception staff.

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    If they ask you questions, it's because we – your doctors – need to know the answers. If you verbally abuse them, we might end up refusing to see you.

    12. Refuse to vaccinate your children.

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    This really does go without saying. Don't believe the lies: Vaccines save lives.

    13. Be a smartass.

    Twitter: @Squid38

    Again, we only have 10-minute slots, and we need to figure out what's wrong with you in that time. Help us out, get to the point, and don't crack loads of jokes.

    14. Demand a sick note for a fake illness.

    15. Fail to finish courses of medication, or completely ignore the instructions.

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    Not finishing courses of antibiotics is a leading cause of resistance. It's also frustrating when you come back two weeks later and say you're "still sick".

    16. Steal things from the doctor's office.

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    It isn't just toilet paper; we're talking pens, paper, tables, chairs, and even kids' toys. That's why we buy those tables with beads we can nail to the ground.

    17. Furiously demand antibiotics for a cold.

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    Asking if you need antibiotics and accepting our reply is fine, but angrily demanding them when you've been told they won't work? That's just not OK.

    18. Mess about with our stuff.

    19. Harass us when you see us in the supermarket, or when we're on the school run.

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    Sorry, but we don't want to give you medical advice when we're shopping for baked beans or dealing with a screaming child. Please make an appointment.

    20. Convince yourself you have a rare disease based on scaremongering news stories.

    Twitter: @teejaytwoface

    We know it's hard to avoid these kinds of stories, but try to be rational. Before demanding to be seen in an "emergency" because you think you have an Ebola/Zika hybrid, double check your symptoms. Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it's just a cold.

    21. Refuse to give your children or teenagers privacy.

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    If your kid asks to speak to us alone, don't say: "Anything you can say in front of the doctor, you can say in front of me." That's just not true. Give them space.

    22. Yell at us, or threaten us with violence.

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    This happens more often that you think, and it's never fun. Most surgeries have panic buttons installed so we can contact the police quickly.

    23. And, worst of all, fail to come and see us.