[ergothus]

> I'm confused what you would rather they have done

Other than having more doctors in the world (thus higher availability) and/or lower prices, I don't think this is a solvable problem. My point was not that doctors are terrible, but that people may have decent reasons to suspect going to the doctor for a mild rash (as article had) would not be worth it. Reasons other than stoicism. When I have a cough now, I still don't go to the doctor because the last 4 trips have been "You have bronchitis, just wait it out". I've resigned myself to having a constant low-level cough between Nov-Mar every year.

I do think my allergies should have been detected, but at the same time I understand the reasons they weren't. My goal was not blame, though I can certainly see how my pity-party comment could sound that way.