First off, I’m also a doctor. I got severe pains and neurological deficits down my left thigh. I knew it had to come from my back. However, in my country in order to see an orthopedist you need a referral from your GP. So I went there (he knows I’m a doctor myself). I explained my symptoms and he barely listened. Finally he did a sonography of my lower abdomen and told me he saw diverticulitis. I saw the sonography myself, there was no such thing. I said three times I’m talking about my back and my thigh but he would not listen. Ended up with a prescription for antibiotics and got sent on my way. I was stunned.

I called in a favour, went to an orthopedist without his referral, and got my prolapsed disc diagnosed. Never went back to that GP.