Dear K,
what you are describing is typical of the response doctors go through when
even mildly criticised - something to do with the way the system selects out
slightly obsessional perfectionists. Essentially, if you challenge one bit
of the way we work, we regard it as a challenge to our entire competance.
On the other hand, even the most perfect one of us makes many mistakes in a
lifetime. Looking at some of the reports from the various law organisations
(as I have to) makes you realise that we have a pretty high standard
compared to solicitors - at least we don't defraud our patients with quite
such monotonous regularity.
The trouble is, we are used to (a) dealing with things quickly and (b)
dealing with a large amount of uncertainty. When we hit a problem, we are
conditioned to expect a quick answer, and have trouble resetting our
uncertainty thermostat.
Over my door are the metaphorical words 'there but for the grace of God, go
I' against the time when I do foul up and someone does me for it - I, like
you, try to do my best, but I know I can't be perfect, given human nature,
time, resources and the slight amount of information I usually have
available. When I do get hit, I am reconciled to the idea of it being for
some chance, maybe trivial error, and I will think of all the other times,
and try to tell myself it was just the time my number came up.
So chin up, back into the breach. You are OK. We believe in you.
Andrew
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Katie Law
> Sent: 16 September 1998 12:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Lawyers
>
>
> Why do lawyers work so slowly?
>
> Yes, I know, all those of you related to such people will be jumping up
> and down, raised hackles to defend them, and I mean no offence, but ....
>
> It has taken a year from notifying a certain defence organisation of a
> *potential claim* (their words to describe a letter proclaiming
> negligence) to get ....
> Well, where has it got?
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