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Pick caring rather than famous doctors: expert

"The more difficult it is to see a doctor, the more patients are convinced this doctor must be the best in the field and no other will do."

Helen Chang, clinical oncologist

A clinical oncologist yesterday advised the public to pick good doctors who are willing to listen carefully to their symptoms rather than "celebrity doctors."

Although the days of lavishing famous doctors with cash before and gifts after surgery are past, many patients would still rather wait in line to see high-profile specialists.

Speaking at her book launch yesterday, Helen Chang (張之申), a clinical oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania hospital, said that the "celebrity doctor" phenomenon that is so prevalent in Taiwan is unheard of in countries such as the US.

"I am not sure what to call them in English," said Chang at the promotion event for her book, Do You Have to Go to a Famous Doctor?

A doctor becomes a celebrity doctor either through media exposure or academic success in their specialty, such as becoming the head attending physician of a department or being published in prestigious journals, Chang said.

Once they have established a reputation, the very fact that patients are lining up to see them becomes a bizarre advertising tool, Chang said.

"Some of my Taiwanese friends choose a restaurant based on how long the lines are. They will line up around the block to buy egg tarts just because the lines are long," Chang said.

"The more difficult it is to see a doctor, the more patients are convinced this doctor must be the best in the field and no other will do." she said.

People should choose doctors based on how sensitive, responsive and caring they are, Chang said.

"Too many celebrity doctors suffer from a `god' complex and are incapable of thinking of problems that exist outside their field of specialty," Chang said.

A veteran medical reporter for a Chinese-language daily confirmed to the Taipei Times that she is usually approahed by friends, families and acquaintances eager to get an appointment with a celebrity doctor.

"Sometimes I help them, sometimes I don't," the reporter said on condition of anonymity.

"I caution them that in many cases, the celebrity doctors are not their best choice because they are not going to be the most caring and patient," the reporter said.

"But in extremely difficult cases, sometimes it makes sense to go to the top specialist in the field," the reporter said.
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