For what it's worth--I've had some good male doctors, but with the possible exception of the orthopedic surgeon who reassembled me over three and a half years ago, most of the best physicians I've had, particularly primary care physicians, were women. I did have one female doctor who I think was the reincarnation of Lucrezia Borgia, however. She was the rehabilitation physician who followed up on the aforementioned surgery while I was in the hospital. She was brusque and rude, seemed to regard me as an unnecessary intrusion on the really important business of her day, acted like she resented any questions I asked, spent only two or three minutes with me on each occasion, and changed my insurance company $110 a crack (what the hell did she do to earn that much!??). And she had the bedside manner of a turkey vulture.

But the other women doctors I've had were better than good. They generally seem to listen better and are not averse to giving thorough answers to my questions. When it comes to that periodic exam that men are supposed to get after they have passed a certain age, women doctors' fingers are usually smaller and they tend to be gentle and quick. Perhaps it's because they are subject to gynecological exams themselves, they realize that to a man, this is sort of comparable, and they apply the Golden Rule. And even if it is being performed by a woman, believe me, there is absolutely nothing erotic about this procedure.

Don Firth