When you first meet a new doctor, does their age say anything to you? Are you more comfortable if they’re older and clearly more experienced, or do you like having younger doctors who may have more energy and enthusiasm?
Beyond just how you connect with your doctor, though, do you think that their age is going to have any impact on the type of care you get?
Considering both sides of the issue
The safety of patients is clearly important, so there are two different ways you can look at this. First off, there is something to be said for an older doctor having far more experience. He or she may have carried out a procedure hundreds of times or seen the symptoms that you have more times than they can remember. This experience could help them avoid errors that others would make.
At the same time, though, some have suggested that younger doctors make fewer mistakes, in large part because they have more up-to-date knowledge. The medical field changes quickly. If your doctor was trained 30 years ago, does he or she really understand where medicine is at today? On the other hand, if your doctor was in school just a few years before seeing you, will you get fully modern care and the benefits of a sharp young mind?
Mistakes can happen in either case
The truth is that mistakes can occur either way. Regardless of the age of your doctor, if they make an error and you suffer as a result, you must know what options you have to obtain the compensation you deserve.
