Spot on! I graduated from veterinary school when it was more difficult to get into vet school than med school. I went on to become a board certified internist (most vets do not pursue board certification), got an advanced degree, ended up as a professor in a veterinary school, and I mention all that because I know a good physician when I see one. He/she is smart, well informed, curious, and while being highly expert in their chosen area of medicine, they do not exude the expert mindset. The one that says, “I know what’s best for you.”

Fortunately, I am very knowledgeable, and on occasion I have had to intervene with physicians who were improperly caring for, or just not engaging their brain, with a family member who was critically ill. Usually I would try to get them to think it was their idea, but sometimes I had to be more direct. And then I had my own atrial fibrillation episode and I got to become a cardiac patient. Yay. 😩 I had the same experience as you. I got some bad information and also witnessed outright incompetence. I also experienced really great physicians and their staff ( they go hand in hand), but just like you, I had to find the specialists within the specialty, the best of the best. I’m on that quest again after moving to Arizona. It’s a pain, but it’s worth it.

By the way, the best of the best rarely exhibit the expert mindset. And they converse with me as a colleague. They have very secure egos. They know they’re good at what they do and they don’t need to try to convince others. These can be family practitioners, pediatricians, internists, cardiologists, or any specialty. Again, it’s the mindset that matters.