Have a Good Doctor? Don’t Let Them Go

A good doctor is more valuable than the Mona Lisa. Your health is the most important possession you can place in another person’s care. Which makes it essential to do your research and find a good doctor. It should go without saying that when you find a good doctor, you should hold on to them like a baby holding on to her mother. I found this out the hard way. 

In 2002, I was lucky to find an incredible dentist when I moved to the US for my studies. Dental issues have plagued me throughout my life – Dr Dean Phass was a godsend. I visited him regularly for cleanings and the occasional filling over the next three years. In 2005, in the middle of a bridge tournament, I bit hard on a snack and my crown tooth broke. Now, I had moved closer to my college and seeing Dr Phass meant traveling for an hour-and-a-half. I decided to visit a dentist near my college. 

Mistake. The dentist told me that I would need an implant – a metal screw that would replace my tooth. I didn’t want no stinkin’ screw inside my mouth. I rectified my error and made the long trip to Dr Phass’s office. He scoffed at the idea of an implant and said that he would fix a replacement crown for me. And he did. 

After this experience, I made sure I visited Dr Phass for the rest of my stay in the US. And trusted him blindly for anything related to my teeth.

You would think that after this experience, when I found a keeper, I wouldn’t let them go at any cost. Nope. I made the same mistake yet again. Between 2007 – 2009, I had the most fantastic doctor, Dr Suresh Muttath. He never failed to greet me with a smile. He was incredibly positive. Strike that – he was positivity itself. And looking back, his cheer was as important a factor as his excellent diagnostic skills.

In 2009, I moved to another city in Maryland after I graduated with my Masters degree and joined the workforce. Once again, I decided to switch doctors because Dr Muttath was an hour away. A fellow bridge player, who was my teammate occasionally, was a doctor. I decided to see him instead. Only to regret it.

I found that the bridge player doctor had a propensity to medicate aggressively. He prescribed a medicine for sinus drainage, and when I enquired at the pharmacy, they told me that this was steroids. I have seen my Dad take steroids for a chronic condition, and the side effects that tag along like an unwelcome house guest. I didn’t want to take steroids for a routine situation, and I decided to go back to Dr Muttath. Who welcomed me with open arms. And cared for me till I returned back to India. (When I once complained about my inability to sleep, he taught me how to meditate on Lord Vishnu. Now, that is my kind of doctor.)

A good doctor is rarer than finding a parking space in New York City. Having made the same mistake twice, I can say from first-hand experience – if you find a keeper, don’t let them go. And this holds good not just for doctors but any professional in any sphere. Whatever be the cost. 

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