The big (6,500 members) Los Angeles County Medical Association hired a survey firm recently to find out what people think about doctors. Detailed interviews with 309 people (plus a chosen "influence group" of 51 community leaders) produced some revealing results, released last week.
The overwhelming majority agreed that doctors give patients as much time and information as needed. Some three-quarters felt that doctors work harder and enjoy less leisure than their patients; 86% thought that doctors do their share or more in the community; 85.5% felt that doctors show kindly, sympathetic interest in their patients.
However, 54.3% had changed doctors.
Chief complaints: their previous...
