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I’ve had both experiences.

Like anything, it’s a complex of the doctor’s personality, personal motivations and their own contentment or lack thereof and how it manifests in their work.

One of the finest bedside manners and wholistic approaches was a doctor I’d had growing up who moved up here from Kingston, Jamaica. The life he had led up until his career as a GP forced him to maintain a “big picture” approach.

One of the worst bedside manners and considerations is a doctor who I can’t name or point to because he’s one of rather high standing in Toronto. A truly brilliant physician and technologist. Awful manner, poor communication. That’s compounded in emotional effect as it’s your life on the line and not theirs.

People are complex and some doctors prioritize their work with patients, others prioritize their research, others their personal finances and so on.

If possible, it’s best just to seek out help and insight elsewhere. Sometimes that second opinion doesn’t change anything, other times it’s fundamental.