The few comments I have read seem to infer that the article is about doctors, although that comparison is only in the headline. The replacement of objectivity with personal bias that the tests purportedly reveal may be found by studying the history of the Obama administration, when Republicans strenuously and nearly unanimously opposed treatments in health care, immigration, economic regulation, and foreign policy that many of them previously had supported.
1
I'm not so sure about the basic premise, that someone's politics is unrelated to his/her expertise in another domain.
Although it is undoubtedly true for the experiment, as many readers have pointed out, it is not so clear for the initial example (and title). Most people would prefer a doctor who collects evidence and makes decisions scientifically.
As we've seen time and again, this is not the MO of the modern Republican party. They deny climate science, they ignore expert opinions that building a wall will not help with our immigration problems, they believe that tax cuts will bring prosperity despite experience otherwise. Many even disbelieve evolution. Let alone the fact that the example cites a doctor who is so enthusiastic about the platform that she attended the Republican convention!
Yes, it's a generalization to make assumptions about this unknown doctor's beliefs, but honestly, what would you bet on if you had the choice between a Republican and a Democrat?
2
Never, if I knew the doctor was a Republican. I'd figured right off, this is a quack who doesn't even believe in science and probably doesn't even know to wash his hands.
1
I think you have asked the wrong question for 2018. It's not about being a Republican, like Eisenhower, GHWB, or John McCain. The question is:after one and a half years, do you still support Trump. Assuming a basic intelligence required for getting through medical school and residency, if you are still supporting Trump, it brings into question your moral framework. Are you purposely uninformed or do you agree with the racism, misogyny, cruelty, and obviously unqualified president or do you not? I would have no problem with a doctor who is a true conservative with whom I could respectfully disagree on policy, but not by someone who, by their inaction, sanctions what is happening in the US right now. To me, this is a critical moral question.
3
The premise that being a good doctor and being a Republican are unrelated is wrong. Good doctors are compassionate, tolerant, practice evidence/science, care about health more than money. Reams of studies and our own experience with multiple Republican administrations show Republicans are generally lacking in these qualities. Moreover, if you are physician and still a Republican after what this Republican president and Congress are doing to health care and to the country as a whole, who are you? Not anyone I want to know, much less let them treat me.
7
It seems like many comments here ignore the main point of the article, which is that we tend to believe those in our political tribe over those on the other side, even when those on our side are clearly not experts. I find the example question about building a wall interesting in this context. I am very much a liberal, but also a critical thinker. As phrased, I would answer that question in the affirmative. I do think it is likely that building a wall would reduce illegal immigration. That does not mean that I think we should do it. Why was the question phrased this way, as opposed to say "should we build a wall along the southern border to reduce illegal immigration?". The study's authors seem to assume that liberal partisans will answer no to their question, even when the logical answer should be yes. I think it is important to remember that there are things in liberal orthodoxy that are also not supported by the facts. For example, the beliefs that GMOs, nuclear power and gluten are always bad, come more from emotion and tribal loyalty than from facts.
Wrong question.
It isn't 'Republican.' It's 'Republican who tolerates and enables the cesspool of lies and corruption that spew from the Presidency.'
And not for political reasons. But for the basic rationality we desire in any professional, and for the basic humanity and ethics that we want in any physician.
Including the anesthesiologist.
40
"People make a positive assessment of those who share their political convictions, and that positive assessment spills over into evaluation of other, irrelevant characteristics."
I'm sure that most Trump supporters voted for him not because they were suckers, not because they believed him, but because they assumed that change - any change at all - would automatically translate into a better situation. My sister doesn't watch TV news, and doesn't read newspaper, yet voted for trump on the assumption that he would balance the budget... something that every politician promises while campaigning. And trump is no exception. As usual, Trump over-simplifies things to the point of absurdity, but he said what she wanted to hear and needed to believe: ""It can be done. ... It will take place and it will go relatively quickly. ... If you have the right people, like, in the agencies and the various people that do the balancing ... you can cut the numbers by two pennies and three pennies and balance a budget quickly and have a stronger and better country."
7
Of course I wouldn't go to a doctor who publicly identified as a Republican. I'd worry about whether they'd help me get drugs at the best price (vs. what drug companies want), whether they'd give me the best scientific advice (vs. what the government says), and similar issues.
19
Would republican doctor treat a democrat differently? It's pretty hard to tell a republican from a democrat and vice versa. But, there are signs. Do young republican's have more tattoos than young democrats? Does the way a democrat dresses differently from a republican say anything? When watching C-span (I guess that says I'm a democrat) and I see orange, pink, lime green ties I say, republican. I see more muted tones (Obama) in dress and I say democrat. It's a fun game to play but it shouldn't be a question when it come to health care. Unless, that doctor feels the need to give a lecture (abortion, gays, religion, etc) about politics and my personal beliefs. It has probably happened in hospitals, clinics and other health facilities.
5
I went to my GP last week and, as he left the examining room, a chance remark revealed that he supported trump. It took a few hours to process until I realized I couldn't continue with a man of science who seemed to be ok with climate change denial and erasing science and scientists from government websites through cabinet choices which reflect trump's newly-found conservative values.
How could a man dedicated to improving the health of his patients stand by while the ACA is dismantled bit by bit? It appears that he'd bought the lies of shrieking conspiracists about Hillary, effectively meaning he'd buy any ridiculous theory that conformed to his world view.
I have no idea whether the doctors I've consulted in years past leaned left or right. And it would not have mattered to me if any one of them supported Nixon, Reagan, either Bush. But no other administration has gone to war against science, health, logic or reason in the way these trump republicans have.
Yes, I'm changing doctors.
44
Given the Republican disregard for science and facts, I would most definitely think twice before consulting one regarding my health...
21
Oh. My. Gosh. If there was ever an article that shown light on the fact that liberals are close minded, this is it.
I am a physician, 25 years of experience. I would NEVER ask a patient their political affiliation, nor would I EVER change how I treat them if somehow this ever came up.
Obviously I would not be shown the same courtesy by a liberal patient.
21
Alas, my doctor retired. We used to talk politics while I was in his office. I'll be seeing a new doctor soon and I do hope he's a Democrat.
9
I've been treated by several different doctors since the 2016 presidential election. In addition to physical complaints, I've experienced anxiety and depression in direct relation to the election results.
Over the course of my life, I've been sexually assaulted and harassed many times, starting in junior high school and through my early 30s.
I've learned that the election was a trigger for many women, because (surprise!) many more women than I suspected have had similar experiences. The selection of a boasting Groper in Chief by a minority-yet-significant-number of fellow Americans triggered me and other victims, pitching us into despair and depression. My observations were validated by my psychiatrist, who told me my difficulty in finding a provider accepting new patients was due to a sudden spike in need after November 2016.
This makes me very sad. And I'm grateful for good health insurance thanks to my husband's union.
I'd like sympathetic healthcare providers and feel I can best receive understanding from those who are similarly dismayed by the current occupant of the White House and his congressional enablers. I have better chances with liberals.
17
It's difficult to choose a doctor in the first place, because data about her skills/track record/compassion/conscientiousness are all nearly impossible to obtain. You're left with the information you have available to you - unfortunately that's how you have to make most of the decisions in life.
All other things being equal, if I have to choose between a doctor who voted for Trump and one who did not, I'd choose the second.
Why? Because if you voted for him (even if you held your nose as you did it), that means the following weren't dealbreakers:
- his dog whistles that say people of color, immigrants, women, and LGBT people are somehow lesser than "real" Americans
- his anti-science stance
- his dishonesty
- his lack of compassion
- his obsession with status and money
If you're a doctor who is can stomach voting for someone like that to be THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, then I'd say that's enough evidence to make me think that you might be ok with those traits in yourself.
As a person of color, I'd have some concerns:
- Might you be *slightly* more likely (even if subconsciously) to be slightly less compassionate?
- Might you be *slightly* less likely to go above and beyond to provide me with the best care possible?
- Might you be *slightly* more likely to prescribe unnecessary treatment in order to make a little extra $$?
Of course I have no idea, but just having those concerns would be enough for me to choose the second one.
20
This study is ridiculous. I can't believe it wasn't rejected outright as flawed.
The assumption that medicine is some kind of objective science existing in a cultural void is easily disproven.
Obamacare, mammograms, opioid prescriptions, abortion, HPV vaccinations, birth control, maternal health, assisted suicide, palliative care, breastfeeding, IVF, ED medication, growth hormones, LGBT health, HIV, STIs, gun violence, domestic violence, sexual abuse, sex education, substance abuse, etc, etc... So, so, so many health issues are politicized.
Even if a doctor wanted to apply their skills without reference to anything going on politically or socially, could she? Standards of care are not fixed (and are not politically neutral) and doctors rely on their own professional judgement to recommend treatment--of course they are influenced by their own ideologies!
I would see a Republican doctor if I could be assured that I would have access to the best, most appropriate care for my situation--but there is no way to guarantee that you are going to get that from any doctor. They aren't machines that produce predictable results.
In the absence of a reliable way to predict the skill and judgement of any individual doctor, I think political affiliation could be a more than adequate decision-making tool.
10
Assuming two doctors in a specialty I require are equal in ability and experience I would absolutely choose the non-republican but in the event the superstar of say transplant surgery was a Republican and vastly superior to any non Republican choice I would go with the Republican
5
This article makes me sad. It makes me sad to think that people can have so much hatred for someone they do not even know.
13
My doctor is Republican. We talk politics regularly.
He is an old time moderate R, and he can't stand Trump for exactly the same reasons I can't stand Trump.
I can accept that. We disagree in ways in which reasonable people can disagree.
If he was an avid Trump supporter I would find another doctor. I would be very suspicious of enthusiasm for a conman.
21
I had the unpleasant experience several years ago (before Trump) of undergoing laser treatments on my face by a plastic surgeon making use of the opportunity to tell me everything wrong in his opinion with Hilary Clinton. My face was numbed, I was mildly sedated, I could not talk back, and I did not dare move. His treatments were effective, but as a Hilary supporter, I could not bring myself to ever see him again. It still makes me mad, when I think about it. I was not paying him for his political opinion, which to me was not only wrong but inappropriate.
9
To all who say they would not: if you’re ever on an airplane the sidewalk having a stroke or a heart attack, make sure you ask for the Doctor’s voter registration card before letting him or her touch you!
2
Absolutely not. I base this on the attempt of an "Independent Medical Examiner" to build a dishonest case against the injuries I sustained at work. There were so many erroneous "facts" in his report, it was a work of fiction.
In addition, this D.O. employed by a workman's comp insurance company, and buffered by a third-party examination firm, injected so much boilerplate into his report, stacking dishonest statements against me, it would take years to challenge them.
They hope you'll walk away with your tail between your legs. My advice is -- don't.
And how do I know he was an extreme Conservative? Easy. He entered the examination room with an US Army lanyard and other monographed Army items on him, as if this added swagger to his identity. I, in fact, am part of a Marine family.
During our conversation, he made it clear that his intention was to fog me and succeed in cutting off my benefits -- which he did. And if recent, estimates are correct, insurers spent $10,000 to $12,000 to contract an examiner who would deny future annual claims of $2,000 or less. What's "Republican" about this? The notion that any male who claims to be injured at work is not a man, is seeking a handout or casting blame.
Today's GOP physician cares about financial gain at the expense of a patients' physical and emotional health. While some claim contracted IME's can never be sued for the misdiagnoses and biases they bring to their "exams" because the patients aren't their own, think again.
8
I'll follow the science and the math as politics and Republicans can't distort or destroy either. And if a Democrat strays from the science or math, I will take my business elsewhere. However with Republicans actively destroying healthcare and transferring massive amounts of wealth to the wealthiest, How can I trust them on healthcare or finances?
Women's health and their doctor's politics are not "unrelated domains" given the anti-women' health dogma of Republicans. Indeed, can a woman rely on the family planning advice from a Republican doctor? Republican's determination to steal funding from health care - indeed, to destroy health care for millions - to give to the wealthy is germane to anyone who cares for and is seeking a doctor for their healthcare.
The same applies for bankers, financial planners and financiers handling our money - Republicans have NO fiduciary duty to their clients, constituents or country - only to themselves and their financial patrons.
Which party comes up with the most conspiracy stories, lies, hoaxes, fake news and outright treachery? Only one party instigates and "plays games" with the likes of: 9/11 conspiracies, Sandy Hook being fake, WMDs in Iraq, Pizza-gate, Spygate, Benghazi, e-mails, climate change is a hoax, tax cuts to pay off debt, and worse? How can a Republican be trusted? Besides, Trumplicans are not interested in blaps, only in splats.
9
>
"If we are free to loathe Trump, we are free to loathe his most loyal voters, who have put the rest of us at risk".
Frank Rich
9
Funny, if you ask people who are Republicans if they go to a Democrat doctor - probably 100% will say they that they don't care. Judging by these comments that's the difference between the Left and the Right.
4
Being a Republican in 2018 means one or more of several things: 1) you deny basic reality (climate change, evolution; 2) you don't care what happens to humans other than rich ones, 3) you have trouble integrating various sources of information and coming to rational conclusions, or 4) you are a bigot. Maybe there are a few more things which wouldn't interfere with their "doctoring" but mainly not.
Finally, there's me. I want to feel simpatico with my doctor, with a sense of trust, and to some extent a feeling that we are on the same page, especially if I am dealing with a complicated and serious illness. Perhaps that is my problem, but it is hard to feel that "working together" spirit with today's Republicans, especially a Trump supporter.
11
I've never known my doctors' political views or affiliations and see no reason to begin now. I know whether they are knowledgeable and effective. We did run into a pediatrician years ago, when we moved to our town, who couldn't treat our family (two same-sex parents and a child) respectfully. We didn't stick with him. Maybe he was a Republican, maybe not. He was certainly unprofessional.
3
I would and have gone to many a Republican doctor. Their children in school were high achievers in school, respectful, and members of the community. I will gladly support anyone who encourages their offspring to be good citizens.
6
The short answer is NO
7
I'm a Republican , have 3 doctors all Democrats . Another crazy idea by Cass Sunstein 'a democrat .
2
the obvious answer is that the Republican platform disavows science and I'd rather not see a doctor who thinks the earth is flat
7
What do you mean by "Republican". Eisenhower? Reagan? Trump?
Today's Trump-enabling Republicans are a different breed of cat, who celebrate ignorance and bullying and lying, who stand by in silence when women and veterans are disrespected by the president, who put party over country and political advantage over ethics. Above all, they don't care about facts or truth.
I'd go to an Eisenhower doctor any day. A Trump doctor? No way!
8
I don’t pick my doctors based on their politics. However, my ophthalmologist made a vaguely racist comment about immigrants at my last appointment with him and I found a different doctor.
9
It's misleading to say being GOP & doctor are unrelated. I wouldn't choose a GOP doctor because the Republicans are antI science & anti woman! No thanks.
6
Another NYT article that adds nothing useful but unleashes a torrent of comments, that encourages one point of view, that allows the liberal tribe to reinforce its own sense of superiority. Whatever happened to a dialogue between/among opposing viewpoints, all of which - moderately conservative or very, moderately liberal or very, and all levels in between - were allowed to have differing opinions and cogent arguments on all sides - acknowledging that the other might actually have a point. Isn't this lack the very problem viewpoint that paralyzes our government?
Why does the NYT not become what it was, a journal that encompassed true discussion of all opinions? Shame on you, NYT, a sad shadow of what you were of old. Now just the liberal print version of Fox News.
I'll bet that many of the responders here wouldn't hesitate to hire a republican lawyer, no questions asked, if it would save their skins or pocketbooks.
Some of the responses re doctors were redolent, if not reeking, of green stuff and I don't mean absinthe but envy.
Try memorizing pages of facts yes but then, most importantly synthesizing them so that when someone comes ill, unsure, scared and with a confusing history and equally confused incoherent answers to questions, you can put it all together - just like that.
It's called DIAGNOSIS and it's an ART.
BTW I voted for Hilary Clinton.
5
In the name of political purity, will we be choosing plumbers, electricians, mechanics, landscapers, etc. according to their political affiliation? This is as bigoted as choosing a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief based on their religion. Jewish professionals of a certain age can testify about that kind of bigotry. Disgusting.
4
The contemporary Republican Party is largely anti-science, anti-fact, anti-reality, and misanthropic. Why would I want a doctor who was a willing member of that through-the-looking-glass team?
They are no longer the party of Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Warren Rudman, Tom Campbell, etc. They are certainly no longer the party of Lincoln. They are now the Official Monster Raving Loony Party (Sorry, Monty Python)
I wouldn't mind an old fashioned Republican doctor - A low taxes, fiscal responsibility, mind your own business, law & order kind of Republican.... But this new variety? No way. Absolutely not.
3
No.
4
I have no idea how my doctor votes or IF he votes. I don’t care. He’s an excellent doctor.
9
In the interest of disclosure, I am a somatic psychologist.
I am privy to information about the psychological/somatic character structures of progressives and conservatives. Currently we are in a time of active malignant narcissistic conservatism. Some conservatives are not narcissists so at the very least they are enabling the narcissists in charge or staying home and waiting the drama out.
If I were non-white, would I allow a conservative surgeon to operate on me? No. Would I choose a Trump signed restaurant to eat in. Maybe but just to collect data on a malignant group.
Most professions are not just objective; the quality of a service is affected by the bond between provider and the client. The writers of this article focus on objective content which is easy enough to locate by search engines
from Yelp to Find the Best Doc. They do not focus on the way Context (political view) can add to or subtract from
outcome.
5
Those on the left complain constantly about stereotyping, yet with this exercise I have witnessed it almost exclusively with those on the left. Most apparent are the gays that are anti-Republican. Yes, people like to associate with like-minded friends understandably. But when their biases transcend into things that would have absolutely no bearing it is really sad how truly bigoted these people are. Working in the airline industry for 25 years, I would say at least a third of my coworkers are gay or highly supportive and at least 90% of them vote Republican. Polarizing as political conversations can be, we still respect each other and value opinions, totally unlike the majority of the people that have commented here. So sad.
8
Normally one's politics aren't relevant, but coming out trans, when I heard my far-right doctor say certain things, uh, of course not, why would I subject myself? Politics have no place, none, in a doctor's office.
2
Fortunately, its not a choice I would have to make unless I was visiting friends in the USA. Like most other people in the developed world, I fortunatley live in a country with universal health care, and after either going to a (free) public clinic I might be referred to a specialist if required. And, I wouldn't have any idea what their political affiliation is--though no matter what it might be, they would almost certainly believe in both science and the validity of the system they work within. So, basically, in many parts of the world there is no equivlanent issue.
5
Do you really believe that Republican doctors don't believe in science?
1
Great experiment! Psychology IS interesting sometimes.
All the more a reason that all scientists and physicians should be Independents as a matter of principle. I am convinced the really good ones are, because they know rationally and intuitively that being a member of a party degrades one to a sheep that has to run with the herd or is going to be punished by it.
That way, we can remain true to ourselves and align with those parts of the prevailing ideas emanating from any political faction that make the most sense and amalgamate them into the best possible approach given the available information at the time.
That's why people have a hard time figuring me out. Am I a liberal or a conservative? The correct answer is both and neither.
Quantum physicists won't have any problem with that.
2
I am sure that I am going to many doctors in New York who are Democrats in this Democratic town. If they are qualified, I do not care about their politics. It has not come up often during my visits but once it did happen and I said nothing as a Republican. Since I am a Republican, I would very much welcome going to Republican doctors but they are as rare in New York as snow in April. It can happen, but I do not hold my breath.
1
Giving more credence to someone who's like-minded politically in subjects that are completely unrelated to politics surely seems wrong. However, some subjects, such as those dependent on scientific knowledge, to which Republicans in general seem to be hostile, are not unrelated to politics. Also, given a choice, in choosing someone, such as a doctor, who is paid for services, I'd prefer not to support someone who is likely to work against the things in which I believe.
7
Jordan Peterson talks a great deal on what makes a conservative and what makes a liberal. Dr Peterson looks at brain chemistry.
For the last decade 70% of new doctors in Quebec have been female which seems a far more relevant statistic than politics and I suggest Dr Peterson would concur, Our medical schools do not look at gender and financial ability is irrelevant only test results and I would suggest women are less political.
I don't care if my doctor is a Liberal, Conservative or democratic socialist, I don't care if she is a Liberal, CAQ or Parti Quebecois on the Provincial level.
I think Americans have more than enough to worry about without the party affiliation of their doctors and even if gender is far more relevant I really don't care if my doctor is male or female.
7
I don't know anything about my doctors' political views and I don't care. I find it astonishing that so many of these comments assume that supporting a political party or a politician implies an identity of views. For most of us, political views are not that simple. For example, it is possible to identify as a Republican based on fiscal, tax and regulatory policies while still supporting women's reproductive rights.
8
Your house is on fire. Would you let the firefighters put it out if you found out they are Republican?
Your husband's heart stopped. Would you allow a Republican to perform CPR?
You boarded a flight, but find out that the pilot voted for Trump. Would you get off the plane?
The list goes on as does the idiocy that life is so black and white.
14
That depends. Do republican firefighters believe I have the same right as rich white males to have my fire put out? Will they put out my fire without first questioning my life choices? Then yes, I trust them.
Doctors don't put out fires. They make decisions based on a multitude of facts, assumptions, and values. If their values say that certain types of medical care should not be provided or even mentioned -- then those doctors are not competent to treat me in good faith.
20
Where i had a choice & it would not impinge on care emergency or life threatening status Yes
Voting for this lunatic was a judgement call
Bad judgement means bad judgement
You decide if you could trust the person
The people voting for nastiness - it was clear that is what he was selling - well i do not do nasty very well
7
You didn't really answer the question. Do you need to know if the person who will be providing a service to you, emergency or otherwise, meets your criteria before allowing them to perform whatever that service is?
Let's try one more. Your car broke down, you have no cell service, you are too far away to walk for help and the temperature is well below freezing. A car driven by a 60 year old woman stops and offers to help you. She seems trustworthy, but has a Trump bumper sticker on her car. Do you accept her offer or consider her a white privileged racist based on the Trump sicker and decide to take your chances.
"Republican Doctor, Would You Care for a Democrat Patient the Same as You Care for a Republican Patient?" - There, I fixed the headline. The article should contemplate whether the quality of physicians' treatment of patients is affected by their perception of the patient's political leanings due to unconscious bias. Why is bias being pinned on patients?
8
Doctors, like confessors and spouses, are those in whom we confide and who's advice and judgment we seek. Why choose someone you are not comfortable with or one who does not see the world as you do?
18
I almost certainly don't see the world the way you do, I would still treat you by the best of my abilities.
3
Uh, I’d want the best doctor, regardless of political persuasion.
19
And the “ demonizing” by NYT of anything Republican continues.
15
And rightfully so....
5
As it should
GOP RIP
Vote in November!
8
I have a very good eye Dr who is a Scientologist. I personally think Scientology is whack a doo but she is a good Dr.
My brother is a Republican heart surgeon who believe in science and the fact that women should have access to birth control. He is highly respected in his field.
Me personally, I prefer women Drs as my concerns have often been dismissed. I had one Dr tell me my pain was emotional and in my head..the X-rays later showed arthritis. Have not gone back.
No matter what their personal beliefs I want my Dr to act in my best interest.
13
If your brother votes for politicians who make it harder to access birth control, then, no, he doesn't believe in a woman's right to it.
7
The doctors who place their political beliefs above the care of their patients are Republican/conservative. Examples range from not prescribing morning after pills, discussing abortion, judgement of drug use or sexual activity. As a patient, it can not be my responsibility to overlook this, placing my health at risk, in an effort to see past politics.
12
There is no economic nor legal nor political nor social 'science'. There are too many variables and unknowns to craft the double-blind controls that provide repeatable predictable results.
There is only biological science. The one and only biological DNA genetic evolutionary fit human race species began in Africa 300, 000 years ago. We are primate apes programmed to crave fat, salt, sugar, water, habitat, sex and kin by any means necessary including conflict and cooperation.
Humans are naturally tribal by family and friend. Ethnicity, national origin, faith, socioeconomics, politics and educational are tribal markers.
Medicine is part art and part science. Being smart is not the same thing as being wise. A doctor who comforts your emotional and mental human needs is critical to your treating physical health needs.
2
For those who commented that they wouldn't go because the doctor lacks critical thinking, denies science, etc. Let me ask if you would do to a religious doctor? Because those same things could be said of them and I'm sure 95% of us has visited a religious doctor st some point in our lives.
5
No I would not . I have known a few men and they are arrogant not compassionate and should be working in Trumps hard labor coal mines getting rid of that daily hostility. A doctor needs to be compassionate and that is why I go to woman doctors now. I find them more understanding.
3
If you analogize the subjects of the study discussed in this article to the physicians in this hypothetical (rather than as the patients), a physician whose political views differ from their patient's might be less likely to believe their patient is capable of identifying and describing their own symptoms with accuracy (think House), and may be less empathetic toward the patient, especially if the physician perceives the patient as less educated, intelligent, etc. A person's ideology affects how they interact with others, which could impact the quality of care given to those who have different beliefs.
Also, being a good doctor isn't just about knowledge and facts. It also requires a good bedside manner, empathy, respect of the patient. While this is a generalization, members of the Republican party tend to be less empathetic and respectful towards minorities and women. They tend to be more judgmental of people who are poor or less educated, and may not even think such people are deserving of equal treatment. That may affect how they treat patients who they perceive as being Democrats.
6
Really, I don't care how talented a doctor he is - would you want Ben Carson responsible for any part of your health care?
15
If no other brain surgeon was around and an emergency surgery needed, then sure!
3
"Really, I don't care how talented a doctor he is - would you want Ben Carson responsible for any part of your health care?"
I don't want Jill Stein either! But most doctors are not so extreme.
2
Absolutely would choose a Republican doctor. He probably didn't smoke pot in college, is more prone to encourage me to engage in independent activity, and is less prone to feed at the trough of state.
10
In my location (FL), a large percentage of "in network" GP's and even specialists appear to be from India or Pakistan. Not sure where that fits into the bias or political purity test, and I think it would be rude to ask them their political opinions.
7
As a doctor this article is concerning but so are people's comments that are so polarized. The biggest problem with this question is stereotyping one's moral compass, and professional integrity, with one's political leaning. Unfortunately, there has been the assumption that if you align yourself with one party, you believe, or tow all that party's lines. Political discourse has lost its main objective of greater social good and compromise.
Does a affiliating oneself with the republican party automatically mean you are:
An evangelical Christian? Are Pro Choice? Anti-LGBTQ? Anti-immigration? Greedy? Do not believe is social balance? Anti-women's rights? Out just for yourself?
I would argue that we are all more complex than these simple and narrow categories. I believe that the majority of us have a mix of ideology that does not conform perfectly to any party. So assuming multiple beliefs about a person due to their party affiliation, when there are only really two major ones is erroneous. Our political landscape would be a better place if we allowed politicians to run and stand on what they personally believe. This would allow compromise and negotiations with regard to the citizens that they were elected to represent and not the 'party line', this would hopefully end the stalemate in congress and our government.
22
Affiliating yourself with the Republican party makes it possible for those policies to become law. Whether you personally support them is irrelevant. You own them.
5
Unfortunately for the reasoned comments here, the national GOP party demands fealty ti his highness.
My friends who have been lifelong Republicans
-and yes we still are friends, have long ago jumped ship
With good reason
Reason does not permit fealty to authoritarianism
And good judgement leads to jumping ship
Doctor lawyer or other profession
4
So, conditions are ripe for a host of mistakes - and not just about blaps. Guess that would include deplorables. As for this old, blue dog Democrat, one of my doctors is a rock ribbed, cowboy boot wearing Republican Trump supporter, and I wouldn’t change him for the world.
10
If s/he is a Trump Republican, I wouldn’t knowingly want him/her as my garbage collector.
8
I've had Republican doctors with no odd encounters save one: My urologist performed a vasectomy on me about 10 years ago. I'm a geologist, so we were making small talk during the procedure and he asked "what do you make of all of this global warming mumbo-jumbo?" Knowing his affiliation, proximity of a scalpel to my sensitive areas, and the tone of the question, I was taken aback for a few seconds (plus the pre-surgery Valium was in full swing). I answered that there was way too much evidence to support it, the real question was what to do about it. The procedure worked with no side effects and he was super cordial during follow-ups, so I think he may have just been genuinely curious what someone outside of his group thought.
1
I love my dentist. A faculty member at a highly regarded dental school, he possesses unquestionable expertise. We share a love of musical theater and he eases anxiety by reciting Emily Dickinson while wielding the drill.
What's not to like?
On a visit during the 2016 campaign, our conversation veered from show music to politics. To my horror and disbelief, he revealed not only his disdain for Hillary Clinton, but his intention to vote for Trump.
As I left his office, I was uncharacteristically speechless. I stood in the hallway feeling certain that I could never return and sad that I would need to terminate a professionally and personally valued relationship.
Then I came to my senses and made the equally
uncharacteristic decision to compartmentalize.
In the larger scheme of things, my dentist's political views are incomprehensible to me. HIs vote enables racism and other forms of discrimination and violates a host of values I hold dear.
But he's still a skilled practitioner. He's still bright and charming. If his views hadn't come up tangentially in conversation, I would still harbor the delusion that he, like most others I encounter in this very blue state, shared my virtuous progressive values.
Had I followed my first instinct and switched to a politically compatible dentist, my teeth, my stock of theater lore, and my self-perception as a tolerant citizen would have suffered collateral damage. So I've tried to recapture my delusion.
He's still my dentist.
6
Absolutely not.
Same with financial advisors, estate planners and other professionals one has to be trustful of.
6
This has been bothering me for some time. So-called centrists decrying our political polarization miss an obvious flaw in their argument. It's not that both sides "think" the other side is evil, it's that the other side really is evil. To take just one issue, immigration, one side debates the level of immigration appropriate in society with a range of views. The other side separates children from their parents as a matter of policy.
And yes, if I find out someone supports evil, I will not give them my business.
4
LOL. Listen to yourself. That's exactly the way I (and most other conservatives) view your side. One side debates the level of immigration in society with a range of views. The other side desires to let in millions of people with no regard for their fellow citizens solely to get votes. That is evil.
11
My financial advisors voted for Trump but I've trusted them with my money for 35 years. I don't think a Democrat would do any better. Ideological purity can be counterproductive.
8
As a gay man, I would not go to a Republican doctor. He/she might have no problems treating me, but he supports a party that has worked hard to treat me like a second-class citizen. No matter his actions, at least subconsciously, he must think I'm not worthy of equal rights.
7
I think that if a person supports Trump, that's a sign of poor judgment and possibly a basic character flaw -- reason enough to avoid them.
8
I found this piece amusing. My father was the third generation doc in his family, a skilled eye surgeon and a Renaissance Man of broad interests. He trained at Yale Med, served in a WII MASH, then came home to train in eye under the renowned Francis Adler. Adler was a talented chamber musician and introduced my parents to the rich cultural salons of Philadelphia. In '48, my mother was almost totally paralyzed by polio, fancy plans went in the trash, and my father joined his father's ENT practice in Louisville KY.
Dad had seen the world, the artisans of the African souks and the incredible cultural treasures of Italy, in the war...and it and the culture of Philly had made him a liberal. For him, medicine was an art and a calling, a challenge of his curiosity and creativity.
http://www.sdean.net/myfamily.htm#GoneBefore
Dad was infuriated by doctors who thought their competency in medicine gave them license to pontificate about all manner of things of which they knew nothing and had little understanding and less compassion. And who thought themselves an entitled nobility. Sounds Republican, doesn't it?
If the national GOP consigns the little people to the trash heap, to lousy or no medical care, if it empowers a bully, bigot, liar and fraud in the White House, if this is what being a Republican means, then why would anyone go to a Republican doctor? The things that infuriated my father are at the cindered heart of Republican medicine.
9
I'm thinking your blood pressure might have gone up just typing your comment...
2
Participants were being paid for correct responses. Sure looks like voting against your best interests.
2
This is a very sad article. How many here would shake an Army/Navy/AF officer's hand? How many would let their children to go to West Point? I am an independent. I would not vote for neither one of the pitiful 2 parties.
8
Agree, and excellent comment for a Memorial Day weekend.
3
Last week's article about Senator McCain had hundreds of comments praising him. I'm assuming most of those who commented are Democrats and probably liberal giver the subscriber base of the NYT's. So, Senator McCain, a member of that hated Republican party, is beloved by the same Democrats posting here that they would never see a Republican physician no matter how qualified.
7
I have never known the political affiliation of any of my doctors. It never occurred to me to inquire, just as I don't know if they practice some sort of religion. As an atheist I would not have anyone attend to me if they wanted to prey...oops pray over me.
When I was a young man just out of the army it would not have made any difference about their politics. Both major parties supported science. Today I would hesitate to go to a Republican doctor not because I would fear his ability or that he would not treat me well but I would not want to give him my money to support candidates that I have come to view as photo fascists if not outright fascists.
12
Sorry... I don't want any climate-change denying magical thinking christian Republicans operating on my heart or my kids. To embrace the GOP platform and its president requires so much intellectual dishonesty, that I'll stick with agnostic liberals and apolitical atheists when it comes to choosing doctors and shrinks... especially shrinks!
5
As a woman, why would I go to a doctor who doesn't accept my right to make decisions about my body? Or one who doesn't think I deserve to be treated equally with men?
- Doctor, is my pregnancy healthy?
- Yes! Totally healthy! - lies the doctor who doesn't want me to have an abortion.
- Doctor, I need a prescription for birth control pills.
- What does your husband think? Let's ask his permission.
- I'm not married.
- Then no pill for you! It would encourage promiscuity. (And if the doctor is catholic, then maybe no pill for anyone, ever.)
- Doctor, I'm suffering from depression.
- That happens a lot to childless women. You need to have a baby.
- Doctor, I'm having severe, painful migraines.
- You're just being emotional. Try to relax.
- Doctor, my husband and I are having trouble conceiving.
- it's because you had an abortion 5 years ago. Didn't your abortion provider tell you that abortions cause infertility? Sad.
- Doctor, I think I have ADD.
- Women shouldn't think so much. Just quit your job and be a housewife.
8
Thanks for illustrating the comic delusions held by ostensibly "progressive" people about conservatives.
6
I dont want a Rebublican doctor and a Republican doctor (as the Republicans now ) wouldn't share my world view.
1
It would depend upon the specialization. I do have a Republican dermatologist and a Republican orthopedist who are both excellent. I worked in the mental health field for many years, both inpatient and outpatient. The psychiatrists I have worked with who present themselves as Republicans, or social conservatives, have been less compassionate and more prone to blame the patient for their problems. They have been more impatient and confrontational with patients and less supportive. I would never recommend one of these psychiatrists to anyone.
6
I really don't see how this experiment translates. A person's political views tell me a lot about his or her judgment. And fields like medical care or accounting aren't simple sorting exercises, they involve a great deal of judgment and nuance. Additionally, voting has real-world consequences. A doctor who votes for an administration that is actively working to limit the type of medical care I can legally procure, for example, is never going to advise me honestly should I be in need of that type of medical care.
5
In the past I would not have cared; more likely I would not have known. In the age of trump, a liberal democrat is likely to be turned off by a doctor who voted for trump, and rightfully so. Especially in light of some of today's great comments-- about anti-obama posters in doc offices, creationism magazines in the lobby, etc. That sort of thing should be alarming to ANY member of either party, for the complete lack of discretion such nonsense reveals. That said, I would prefer not knowing at all how my doctors vote. On the other hand, I would not date a republican, I wouldn't choose one to be my regular walking partner, I would not want to be in a book club with a majority GOP membership. But that's because I would get to know people in these sorts of relationships on a deeper level than a doctor; thus would know I had little in common with them as people. My doc-- mostly just a business relationship.
3
I went to a Republican doc in Gardner, Mass. My husband had undergone quadruple bypass surgery, my mother in law broke her hip and had surgery the same day(oh, yes, I’d been her caregiver for 5 years).
I had gone to get a 35 pound box of meal trays (yes, I was a cook for Meals On Wheels) the week before my husband was diagnosed, and my mother in law fell. Went to the doctor two weeks after everyone’s surgery. He basically patted me on the fanny and was going to send me home as most a case of nerves.I had to tell him that I actually hurt myself...he grudgingly sent me for an X-ray. Wonder of wonders, it appeared that I did have a spinal injury. Fast forward to physical therapy, which my insurance required. They put me on a machine that stretched my neck...finally got an MRI. Had a disc at C3 that was impinging on my spinal cord. All the supposed treatment I received could have made me a quadriplegic.
I finally got surgery in November after months of agony. And yes, folks, I worked through it all.Because this doctor thought I was a reactive female.
He is still in practice, now in Connecticut.
7
Not distort. It's just a matter of facts and reason. A Republican doctor is more likely to ignore or deny scientific facts when giving treatment. A Democratic doctor is more likely to present all diagnosis and treatment options. End of story.
7
At this point, I would not trust anyone who is actively supporting the crimes of the Republicans, period. I am a Doctor, and my colleagues who are gung-ho Trumplicans have questionable moral and ethical values to say the least. Their perverted tribalism corrupts even the Hippocratic Oath that they took upon obtaining their medical degrees. I would have thought that a Doctor, by his/her very commitment to life and objectivity, would be immune to the deviance of political corruption. Surprise.
In all my years I have never seen such irrational, uneducated, uninformed and potentially deadly corruption of a profession that I hold so dear.
Note that I refer to "zealots" of the Trumpian tribe, of which even one is too many; there are decent, intelligent, caring, talented Docs of the "old school" who are devoted enough to understand appropriate political disagreement and who use rational thinking to reach their ultimate conclusions.
From my point of view, those that do not should be seen with great caution - they lack the moral compass that should mark a skilled, humanitarian profession.
11
I would go a step further -- if a professional, upon whose judgment I depend, were a trump supporter, I would say that his or her judgment is so poor (in my opinion) that I certainly can't trust that professional to make good and reasoned judgments on my behalf. Some of my best friends support trump, but they are no people who I would do business with or look to for political reasoning.
This leads to another question -- does "like" real estate earn a better return in trump voting areas? I believe the answer is yes. The reason is that people who make good judgments and have financial wherewithal, tend to stay away from trump-favored areas because they are populated by people who are generally poorly educated and ill-informed (and perhaps even toting a gun!). What educated and well-informed person will voluntarily subject themselves to this sort of MAGA environment? Thus, to obtain investment, the return in these trump areas has to be higher. Conversely, in areas where education is highly valued and people are informed and intellectually honest, returns are lower because more smart and educated people want to live in those places. I bet the conclusion is that investments in many parts of the flyover states, Florida and Texas earn high returns, while those in most of California and New York and other desirable places earn comparatively lower returns.
4
I would chose a doctor based on MCAT/Residency/Track Record regardless of political views. I would also prefer to avoid the diversity candidate if diversity is the only skill the doctor brings to the task.
5
I work collaboratively with physicians every day. Those physicians with strong Republican/conservative/right-leaning views are nearly always less competent than their less political, or even left-leaning colleagues. Some in fact, are simply awful. I can't explain this impression beyond mere observation, so I won't attempt to provide a rationale, but as an anesthesia provider, I've learned to be a pretty darn observant person.
31
Many years ago, I took a call from a pregnant mother shopping for a pediatrician. She asked my opinion on abortion. I replied, “I’m a pediatrician. I don’t perform abortions.”
It took a moment for me to realize that she had s “test” for any doctor! I politely told her that I doubted she’d be happy in my practice. I did not elaborate ... but choosing a physician on the basis of any political issue makes about as much sense as asking a politician their opinion on, say, whether clinical trials should have a standardized minimum sample size.
What’s next? Boycotting pro golfers who won’t declare for whom they voted? Requiring football players to wear red neckties while standing for the National Anthem?
Our nation has serious problems, and every second we spend on inanities is time wasted.
14
1. I find it ironic that the "open-minded" left are the only ones commenting that they will not see a competent physician/lawyer, etc with a differing political point of view. 2. The "open-minded" left on this comment board is also making a huge assumption that ALL, each and every single, Republican is "anti-gay" or anti "pick your issue." 3. I would be interested to know if the study found if Republicans or Democrats were more willing to assess a professional of the other party or if one party was more willing to base decisions on skills. 4. If there were only two brain surgeons living on the earth, one Republican and one Democrat, and let's say the Republican is a far superior surgeon, I'm surprised (and disheartened for our country), that so many of you would be willing to have brain surgery from someone that you assume aligns with you ideologically. 5. Look beyond the labels folks! Not all Rs and Ds are exactly alike. Get to know them first, then decide. Reflect the actual open-mindedness of your truly liberal predecessors!
6
Since you ascribe “open mindedness” to liberals, I was wondering if you would describe what it’s like to be close minded?
2
It’s more a matter of which president they voted for than specifically being republican. But I admit I wouldn’t, if I knew they voted for you-know-who. For the simple reason that I would dislike them. I realize it may be an irrational medical decision, but living in New York I’m fairly confident I wouldn’t have a hard time finding a competent doctor without knowing their political affiliation.
2
My dental hygienist is a Trump supporter and she knows I supported Clinton. When I joked I shouldn't have told her that with all the pointy things she has aimed at my gums she laughed. We talk politics while I'm in the chair, with me defending my positions after a rinse and her explaining her take on current events while she's scraping away at tartar and stains (with me offering an occasional grunt when I disagree). But she's the most careful, gentle hygienist I've ever had care for my teeth. She always remembers what we discussed during our last appointment, remembers what I have going on in my life, asks me how my pet lizards are doing, and makes me feel comfortable and safe. My teeth look amazing when I leave her office. I wish I could change her vote, but I won't change dentists because I can't.
8
No. I teach students aspiring to enter the medical field. I've had the unfortunate experience of meeting men and women who's primary interest in a medical career is to impose their beliefs and prevent abortion.
4
Guess I have missed out my entire lifetime! In seven decades never have I been to a professional (Doctor, Dentist, Lawyer, Minister, Teacher/Professor) to discuss politics! I don't care what political persuasion my doctor espouses, because I: (1) will not raise politics with him/her and (2) do not expect, nor will I tolerate a political rant about a personal topic like politics or religion. As long as the doctor takes good care of me and listens to my medical concerns they can believe whatever they want. Politics, like religion, is not based on facts so one's opinions are subjective and not relevant to the issue at hand: their profession!
2
I reject the premise. There are no unrelated expertises.
Political leanings reflect the framework through which we view the world and make sense of it. That framework simply can't help but affect someone's perspective in areas of expertise.
Republican patients appreciate authoritarian doctors. Democratic patients appreciate collaborative doctors.
See?
5
Why has the title of the article been changed from "Would You Go to a Republican Doctor?" to "The Irrational Fear of Republican Doctors"?
Wow. Just wow. I see many thoughtful comments here giving lots of compelling reasons, rational reasons, why one might choose to avoid a Trump-supporting physician.
The condescension in the new title is just stunning.
4
I have two doctors that I know are Republicans. Both are highly intelligent and compassionate men. I haven't a clue why they're Republicans, but I'm not going to argue about it with them.
8
I live in a predominantly Republican, Mormon city.
It’s also not a big city. So, there are not a lot of choices when it comes to medical care.
I don’t make it a practice to ask the political leanings of my Doctors. I’m pretty sure most of them are Mormon, which means Republican.
I don’t have the luxury to choose a Doctor whose a Democrat.
Honestly, I would rather have the BEST doctor, regardless of political party. If they voted for Trump, well they’ll have to answer to a higher power for that!
5
I would hesitate to go to any doctor that displayed a severe lack of critical judgment or a thoughtful and discerning temperament.
3
There was a time when a doctor’s political party wouldn’t have made a difference. Since then, the Republican Party has chosen to support, and continues to support, policies to viciously destroy the health, safety and well-being of most Americans. There is no way I can trust a person who subscribes to such a corrupt and heartless philosophy.
4
As a gay man, I don't have the luxury to go to a republican doc. Couple years ago, I had a eye opening interaction with a general practitioner who wouldn't stop assuming that I can be sexually active with men. My healthcare is completely different then most men.
15 minutes of consultation is the average patient-doc interaction in this country. How do you expect me to tell a stranger the most intimate details of my health and life, if they don't see my humanity or are incompetent in LGBT healthcare(yes, we have unique healthcare needs)?
2
Republicans have placed a con man at the head of state; I therefore question their capacity to make reasonable judgements in any area of their lives. If they can believe Donald Trump should be president then they are fools with sociopathic tendencies. Of course I wouldn't want them to be my doctor lawyer accountant the list goes on and on. I inherently distrust fascists in every area of life. That is a reasonable action in light of the behavior of current day republicans. Unless they are Never Trumpers - they have lost their minds and souls to the cult of personality that is the republican party.
8
When republicans, whether a doctor or not, stop supporting republicans like Pence, Trump, Hannity, Beck, Coulter, Alex Jones, Manafort, Cohen, Flynn, Fox Entertainment, Kushner's, Steven Miller, Ted Cruz, etc., etc., etc. - maybe then I'd go to a republican doctor. But not now. Logically, if you support liars, you are willing to lie.
7
I want to meet that Republican doctor who disavows basic science. You can't support republicans these days without bumping up against that belief system. It is all ideology all of the time facts and science be dammed.
4
When it comes to doctors I learned to avoid white men.
2
People should know that doctors and other healthcare professionals at Catholic hospitals are required to follow the Ethical and Religious Directives, which can be problematic for rape victims. The hospital's priority is NOT to treat the rape victim; it's to determine whether or not conception may occur, and if so, to preserve the pregnancy. Rape victims are asked when their last period was, if their periods are regular, and other questions. They are given a pregnancy test, ostensibly to determine if they are already pregnant, regardless of WHAT they tell the medical staff about prior sexual activity. Some northeastern states where the local health systems are dominated by Catholic providers have had to sue hospitals to force them to explain treatment options that include a morning after pill. After a RAPE. The fact that these directives are still in place and still affecting the care of rape victims in 2018 is shameful and shocking. THIS is the reproductive healthcare system Republicans support.
4
I would like to see a version of this article about having work done on one's home. My husband and I own a 100 year old colonial money pit that we are working hard to upgrade/restore. This involves hiring a lot of contractors. My husband is not quiet about his hatred for Trump and engages everyone who comes to give us quotes. He always favors those who chime in as fellow anti-Trumpeters. Maybe they are blowing smoke, I don't know, but we are a lot more comfortable with people whose political leanings are more like ours working on our home. The most recent crew we hired are first generation Bosnian immigrants. We love them. My husband shares coffee and food with them on their breaks and they complain about Trump.
3
Badgering contractors about politics and demanding that they agree with him (or pretend to)? Your husband is part of the problem. A big part.
4
@Lorem: Oh, I don't know. It's their money, and that's freedom, isn't it?
OTOH, I might be more "don't ask, don't tell", but if they came in a truck w/a "Trump/MAGA" sticker on it, I'd be inclined to look for someone else myself.
I went to a Republican doctor once. He forced me to walk around for 2 weeks with a dead baby in my womb because he refused to perform a D&C on my clearly not viable 4 month fetus until my pregnancy hormones went down. His religious beliefs trumped my psychological, emotional, and physical life. I have never recovered from that trauma.
53
ARTICLE: People don't choose the best doctors. They choose whatever doctors happen to share their politics.
COMMENTS SECTION: Great idea!
LOGIC: [dies]
2
Republicans don't believe in science, so why would you go to a republican doctor? And let's not even go near the reproductive rights thing.
6
Well, maybe if you wanted to be treated with leeches.
1
If she or he is a good doctor, of course I would! Party affiliation makes no difference to me when choosing a physician.
5
How can they be good if they don't believe in science?
2
I'm sure that blaps have no political ideology, so your experiments were fine. But your extrapolation to doctors and Republicans is unjustified. As a scientist, I've long found that there is a correlation between irrational, non-objective thinking and reactionary or authoritarian politics. It is not one-to-one. I'm sure that there are a vast number of excellent Republican doctors. But the same kind of errors in judgment that can lead a person towards extreme right-wing politics can cross over to judgments about other matters. I'm not at all surprised by the results of your experiments, but it is wrong for you to make the generalizations that you did.
4
I would question any physician’s sense of ethics and judgment if he/she supported Trump. I’m a physician and I cannot believe any objective physician would look at Trump’s behavior and judgment and support him as the executive of our country. How could you trust that person to interpret scientific data and clinical clues soundly?
10
I would expect that a Republican doctor would be less likely to look at alternative medical options, like supplements, yoga, exercise. The GOP is working hard to stay in the 20th century, and is unwilling to consider most science. So folks who vote that way would not work as a partner with me as a patient, but would want to talk down to me about what is best for me. I would not stay in such an office 5 minutes.
5
So many comments "as a progressive liberal I will never pick a Republican doctor to check my blood pressure or a Republican surgeon to perform an heavy open heart surgery." This is ironic, this is exactly what the article is all about.
First, why would you tell your Doctor you're a liberal? Last time I checked alt-right conservatives and far-left liberals had the exact same average blood pressure and the exact same heart.
Second, if the best surgeon in the U.S. is a Republican, why would you refuse his/hear expertise? This whole concept of there is no such thing as a Republican scientist is a complete non sense.
5
You do not deal with reality.
1
Years ago I would have gone to a Republican doctor. Now I would not only avoid a Republican doctor like the plague, I'd rather have the plague.
Any human who continues to associate in any way with the Republican Party is unforgivable and should be shunned and shamed.
Supporting such a person is to be complicit, albeit in a minor way, with treason.
7
The most telling piece of evidence has been left out of the article - the political leaning of the test subjects.
Prediction: The lefties would be the ones with emotion-driven knee-jerk reactions and who tend to be easily led around by the nose. The others, would be rational.
3
Interesting article, however I think the experiment is somewhat flawed because identifying "blaps" is not a culturally accepted important skill and the stakes are not very high. I'm pretty sure that if you had a choice, all other things being equal, to choose between the best oncologist in the country vs. some other random doctor to save your own life, their political leaning would matter not one iota. In addition, I certainly believe in the ability of people to make fully informed decisions not in their own best interest. This seems to be well documented.
1
My dentist is probably Republican, my accountant is definitely Republican, my pool service provider is definitely Republican, my children’s orthodontist is probably Republican, and all are extremely qualified and have done an excellent job providing their services. If, however, I know the party affiliation of a person I was choosing for my personal physician, I would probably not choose a Republican. In matters concerning my personal health, including reproductive health, I would prefer someone whose views align more with my own.
2
The study is not really relevant to the consideration posed by the headline. The study relates to objective expertise in identifying shapes. Political orientation has nothing to do with that skill. However, if we're talking about medical professionals, then it is highly relevant if that person believes in the scientific method, and both believes and acts consistently with the premise that all humans presumptively deserve of care and kindness, regardless of race, religion, gender, orientation and national origin. Trump and many Republicans do NOT believe in any of those things, and therefore I would not want to risk consulting such a medical professional (and if I knew a Democrat who lacked such basic beliefs, I would not consult with him or her, either).
3
if you are GLBTQ then no it's just not safe in the current environment.
7
Shared political leanings can help the doctor-patient relationship. I think of my 84-year-old father. His beloved GP is a fellow lefty. They have a shared admiration for the Cuban medical system, and exchange political books regularly. My dad trusts his doctor, in large part because of their common political ground. And when you are trying to get your 84-year-old dad to comply with medical advice, believe me, having a doctor he loves and will listen to helps immensely. As for me, when I chose a GP I looked for one who, like me, is a vegetarian. It just felt like we'd get along better if we had that shared understanding about meat and health. As it happens, he shares my aversion to excessive medical testing, which I appreciate greatly.
3
I am facing surgery in June, and, silly me, I didn't even wonder for a second what political party my surgeon might be affiliated with. Or his religion. Or anything but his education, his training, his experience and his skill. He seemed like a nice guy, answered all my questions and spent a long time with me over two appointments to discuss my concerns. Why would I possibly care how he votes? He's going to slice my body open, for Pete's Sake. There's more at stake here than his politics. (By the way, he didn't seem interested in how I vote, either.)
6
good luck with your surgeon, who is probably great! Your comment nailed it.
3
Not if I can avoid it.
I work for a large employer that operates a regional medical system and have good insurance. Even with that, I find it really hard to get an appointment with ANY doctor other than annual physicals with my PCP. The network's urgent care center is pretty much the only way to be seen quickly for issues like the systemtic allergic reaction I had to poison ivy earlier this spring, which caused me to break out in an itchy rash all over. At those places, you take pot luck.
1
As a female it would matter to me if my doctor was a closet-Taliban, openly funded ISIS, had a map of every encampment of Bokum Haram, or funded the Ku Klux Klan from his/her profits from their profession.
I truly found this article tedious.
Up your game, Times.
2
The comments here tell me that our "progressives" are far more susceptible to groupthink and believing in negative stereotypes of those who don't agree with them. Conservatives I believe are far more pragmatic. I would bet if the political biases of the groups tested were released we would find that "progressives" scored highest on relying only on other "progressives". This helps me understand why "progressives" believe things that are obviously untrue.
3
Please specify what "obviously untrue" things you think "progressives" believe. I'm a former Republican who broke ranks immediately upon hearing Dick Cheney express his "obviously untrue" belief that "deficits don't matter." But that was just my own personal breaking point. It could have come much earlier, like say when Jerry Falwell declared his belief that AIDS is God's judgment against gays.
3
The belief that all conservatives are of one mind on anything, for example religion - I am agnostic. Another example is the idea we don't believe in science, I have a masters in electrical engineering and a minor in physics. Your belief that you can assign negative traits to a whole bunch of people you don't know is provably false.
What a ridiculous editorial. Even the premise--the headline--is inflammatory and degrading and partisan. Stories like this in the NYT only serve to further divide us all on political grounds. Incredibly smug, self-serving, and presumptuous. The whole premise is that the reader is a democrat and hates republicans so much that he or she would decline treatment from one. I mean, even if the editorial tries to engage a discussion on this question, just using the headline to attract clicks and eyeballs, and thus invite the reader to ponder it, is just pointless. Why publish editorials like this? I'm a journalist and the headline bothered so much I am taking time off deadline to complain about it. Ugh!!!
5
Are you liberals going to wear medical alert bracelets to include "republican health care workers need not do everything in their power to save my life" You hypocrites
6
"You liberals" pretty much defines why lots of people would avoid Republican healthcare providers if possible--because it's clear you'd be happy if some sort of reverse Rapture occurred and we all disappeared into a sinkhole.
5
Not true -don't believe in any Rapture etc. I'm an Independent. I have an open mind.
You have no idea what anyone on this earth really thinks unless you're a mind reader.
Public behavior can be a lie.
I wouldn't go to a Nazi doctor, but I wouldn't drop a good doctor for his Republican politics any more than I would drop my mother for hers.
4
Would I go to a republican doctor? Yes. Would I go to one who voted for Trump? No. Those categories are not the same. The former is a political party that is usually wrong on most issues. The pool of Trump voters is made up of fascists, racists, know-nothings, misogynists, and idiots, whether they know it or not.
4
As a woman, why would I go to a doctor who thinks that someone who brags about sexually assulting women is an acceptable president? That tells me he doesn't value me as a real and complete human being.
40
answer to question....
--no!
--never!!
--why?
--are you kidding?
signed:
an NYU physician
4
Why would I seek medical advice from someone whose political beliefs deny scientific fact? I might as well go to a witch doctor.
9
At least a witch doctor actually believes what he/she believes. Republicans are told what to believe by the Koch brothers.
2
I love how you assume all your readers are Democrats. Sad.
4
Just how bad the polarisation of US society has become is evident in these comments.
Imagine if anyone said they refused to be treated by a Muslim doctor or a religious Jew...they would be accused of racism, intolerance, etc.
Yet making snap judgements about people based on a picture of their shaking hands with Bush or Nixon on their wall, or assuming why they are Republicans is because they are evil, speaks volumes about prejudice.
4
I taught physicians in a masters of public health (MPH) program in a medical school. Physicians are probably the most right wing, climate change denying, anti environmental, anti federal government people you will ever run across. I have had physicians argue with me that DDT was harmless and had just been banned by idiots in the federal government.
3
Would a Democrat or Independent want Ben Carson performing brain surgery on them? Just something to think about.
4
I have been in the medical profession for years and years. Amazingly enough, although we chose not to discuss politics, the blues migrated to the blues and the reds to the reds. As a Democrat, it has become easier and easier to see the compassion and caring in the blues rather the cut and burn of the repulsives. This is reality. You migrate to those who are most like you and in our case, Democrats.
18
Remember, this study is what liberals thought was important. Pathetic
2
As a Republican and a doctor, I am offended by the headline, the premise, and most of the comments. Is being a Republican doctor like being a Nazi doctor? We in medicine and in nursing are trained nowadays to put aside our personal prejudices and care for our patient as our first priority. I cannot believe the bias against Republicans. I cannot stomach the partisan politics.
12
No, but a Republican doctor is like being someone who accepts the word of liars and cheaters and criminals. Trump surrounded himself with criminals, some of whom are now indicted and convicted.
10
What's on the TV in your waiting room, Doc?
7
And yet your party is the one constantly pushing for legislation that would allow professionals (including doctors and pharmacists) the right NOT to offer services which they find offensive or against their personal beliefs.
So as a non-Republican, I am equally as offended by your party's pandering to religious zealots who wish to exert their sick brand of "morality" on my medical decisions.
8
I wouldn't go to Ben Carson for brain surgery, if that's what you're asking.
2
Short answer, no. In fact, I switched doctors since my doctor thought the doctor's office was the place to regale me with his far right politics. I normally turned it off mentally, but being queer, finally thought this is not a person I want to tell my issues to. Bye bye.
3
Well, it's going to depend on how the person conducts him or herself. If the person can keep their biases out of the examination room, then maybe I could work with the person. I've walked out of a number of appointments for a variety of reasons (e.g., more than an hour late, failure to listen, questionable advice). They should just do the job they were trained to do. I don't need to have a conversation about politics, gender identity, abortion rights, or gun control when I see a physician for a rash.
4
My wife and I took my son to a doctor. We sat quite a long time in the waiting room. To pass the time, a Smithsonian magazine would have been nice. I would have even settled for a People magazine. The only magazines offered in the waiting room were ones that aggressively pushed creationism.
After a long wait we could finally see the doctor. In the hall leading to the examination room were two pro-Trump posters and one more in the examination room itself. My wife and I found this to be incredibly unprofessional, why couldn't the doctor put politics aside and just do his job? Nevertheless we still thought he might perhaps be good at his job. We don't have to agree with our doctor's politics, or even like him as a person as long as he is good at his job.
After seeing my son, the doctor contacted a vendor of equipment (bone stimulator) that was not covered by our insurance. The vendor contacted us and very aggressively pressured us to buy their equipment out of pocket. A little research indicated that the vendor has been in considerable legal problems for providing kickbacks to doctors who prescribe their equipment. That's why the insurance doesn't cover their equipment but does cover the competition's. This was the final straw. We found another doctor, insurance paid for the competitor's equipment and we no longer were having our doctor's politics shoved down our throats. I have no idea nor do I even care what our new doctor's politics are.
9
Now do the experiment again but you get $5000 for each correctly identified blap. Bet the results change. Choosing a doctor would have no similarity to choosing a Blap. This is another example of a ridiculous social science experiment.
3
So it's come to this? Do you know if a Republican farmer grew your kale? Or put new brakes on your car? Or drives your kids' school bus? Skill and expertise matters, not political affiliation.
5
All this sanctimony! If I'm really ill I'm going to the doctor who can cure me and all of you would, too. And I'm not asking who he or she voted for.
13
This is a silly article that says nothing about doctors, except in the title. If a doctor is a typical Republican, then he/she does not believe in a woman's right to self-determination of her own body. Why in the world would any woman want to be treated by such a person unless she share the views? The games described in the article make good activities for business class exercises, but have nothing to do with judging a doctor's merits. Would I play blap with a Republican? - probably. Would I accept the same person's advice about my body - definitely not!
And, let's not forget that being a Republican now means accepting, endorsing and the enabling the ethics and values of liars, bigots, bullies, environmental destroyers and worse, that they now support in the White House and Congress.
4
If you can’t deal with someone who disagrees with you, how can you marry?
I think it's more like: If you can't deal with someone who lies to you, how can you marry? If you can't deal with someone who cheats on you, how can you marry? If you can't deal with someone who is a bully, how can you marry? I could go on...
4
Any person who still, in the face of all we have witnessed over the last 30-40 years, votes for the GOP is either gullible, selfish or willfully ignorant. You bet it influences my opinion of their other skills.
8
And people wonder why the progressive movement is such a joke?
6
I've been pondering this. When one of my long-time doctors retired he told me his preplacement was black, and asked me if I was bothered by that. I was surprised that the question was necessary, and found him to be a very competent, pleasant professional.
But as I said earlier, strong beliefs that don't mesh with mine are a deal-breaker. I don't care what people look like, what their sexual orientation is, or how old they are. I do care that their vision of roper care for their patients is the same as mine, and that they respect my wishes.
2
Well, it's good to know that when it comes to false equivalence a neuroscientist and a lawyer can be just as fallible as a typical Republican columnist.
The advice of an architect, or an accountant (or an electrician, or a plumber, or a carpenter, or mechanic) very rarely involves personal morality or choices that lead to pain or death.
Would you trust a doctor...
(1) Who believed palliative (hospice) care for terminal patients was against God's plan?
(3) Who believed gene manipulation was an un-natural treatment for cancer?
(2) Who believed abortion was murder?
(3) Who believed assisted suicide was murder?
(4) Who believed IVF treatment was blasphemous?
(5) Who believed surrogacy was a sin?
(6) Who refused to prescribe birth control to minors?
(7) Who refused to treat the children of gays?
(8) Who labeled addiction a failure of will?
(9) Who had a crucifix hanging prominently in all his examining rooms?
(10) Who constantly complained that health insurance was theft, and making him a pauper?
Do any of these items fit a doctor you know? Is it more likely than not that doctor is a Republican? Are you still his patient? Are you out of your mind?
45
As a black American, I'm on the fence here. I'm the first generation in my family not born in an era of segregation. Although my life has been shaped by the residual impact of such policies, I also had the benefit of not growing up under Jim Crow, of attending integrated schools, going to sleepovers at white friends' homes, and obtaining a university education without navigating hoards of violent protesters hellbent on keeping me out.
But then I think, too, of the years of clandestine medical experimentation on black people, such as the Tuskegee syphilis study. Racial prejudice has contaminated the history of American medicine for so long, The Times is still running articles explaining how black pregnant women in New York City, the most cosmopolitan metropolis in all the land, die at a rate 12 times higher than white women from childbirth-related causes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/opinion/childbirth-black-women-mortal...
Trump's ascent to the White House has peeled the tape from the mouths of bigots who once seethed silently about minorities and immigrants. Do Republican doctors sympathize with them? Does their commitment to upholding the Hippocratic Oath supersede their political values? When I come to them, black, ailing and vulnerable, can they separate the value of my humanity from the vitriol of their party?
Maybe I need to hop down off that fence...
37
In typical NYT fashion the idea that an issue runs both ways is entirely ignored. The issue of doctors asking people questions they perceived as unrelated or inappropriate about their ownership of guns lead to such backlash that it ended up with laws being passed and rejected by the courts. But ultimately if you need a doctor the only question should be whether they are highly competent. Also the comments suggesting that someone who is a Republican would be somehow less caring is such nonsense as too not be worthy of serious discussion. The publishers of the NYT really need to take a good look in the mirror over printing pieces like this. You complain about increasing polarization in this country and then you feed it with this kind of article.
3
Wow. I thought this country had plenty of problems but reading these comments makes me wonder if we should still be considered a single nation.
2
I do not give my money to or spend time with those whose views I abhor.
2
I am a successful guy by almost any metric. It's hard to pin down why because I am not a skilled investor, find entrepreneurship boring, lack impressive credentials and come from a plebeian background. The best explanation I can muster is that I am an INTJ. Our smarts and attention to detail make it hard for us to fail.
In fact, I am pretty conservative with the proviso that I am not socially conservative. Actually, quite the opposite. Unlike most people, I do not gravitate toward others like me.
So, while I am witheringly critical of the GOP, I understand that the world is full of people who are walking contradictions, that people have their kinks, criminal tendencies and hidden faces. I am a hyper-realist who is less resigned to the real world than fascinated by what cheeky monkeys we are.
It depends. I went to a Republican ob/gyn in my late 20s (he is now a member of the Alabama Senate, so I definitely know his party affiliation.) He refused to prescribe birth control because I wasn't married. It's been 15 years, and I'm still disgusted whenever I think of him. I reported him to the medical board, but I don't know if anything came of it.
7
Oddly, I never think twice about a going to foreign doctor, most of mine are middle eastern at Cleveland Clinic and most i believe are Muslims and a few Hindus for good measure. I don't think twice about it, but I doubt I would really want a republican doc. Funny how we have our biases. Until Trump I didn't care.
3
I am a liberal Democrat. My dermatologist is a partisan Republican, with anti-Obamacare screeds posted on the bulletin board. This has not affected my judgement of his work. I recommended him to my wife, and to a friend.
I do find his views annoying.
1
Jed, if your dermatologist cuts you 3 times a year, they're a health care provider taking advantage of the insurance companies and you, and the system and also probably a Republican. The 3x a year cut should cause some pause, not the party affiliation.
I see the title question as another symptom of a sick (pun somewhat intended) society or as Hamlet would say, "something is rotten." I've not frequented a barber shop with trumpists behind the razors! How silly, how sad, that the political hay made out of dividing us should have its consequences in our basic health and welfare. Hopefully there is a healing figure on the horizon who will speak truth, honor science, work for the common good and restore those good feelings I once had on the 4th of the 1960s when we were attempting to build a great society rather than punish the enemies of the party in power.
Physician party affiliations are correlated with specialty, as the NYT and others have reported.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/upshot/your-surgeon-is-probably-a-rep...
https://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5776908/most-doctors-donations-used-to-go-t...
Specialty choice in medical school has a lot to do with personality type, and so by avoiding physicians who don't match your own political leanings, you are purposefully choosing to live in your own bubble, shunning those whose jobs require different life outlook. On top of that, just because someone belongs to a party does not make them a party activist, as many as just apathetic or close to it. Avoiding a physician just because of a party label is, in my opinion, misguided and may be harmful to everyone.
Instead, try having a conversation with your doctor, focusing on listening and open-minded empathy. Your doctor is just a human being with his/her own experience and viewpoint. You both might learn something and make this country a better place.
2
Those correlations are likely based on gender more than specialty. Surgery is very male-dominated, while obgyn and psych are female-dominated.
Years of living in Republican Texas were deeply stressful. Many days fellow employees, car mechanics and doctors would shower me with unsolicited political homilies. Liberal Democrats (such as myself) were casually denounced as unemployed wastrels seeking to undermine the structures upon which decent society depends. Readers who live in states with a more mixed political spectrum really have no idea what it feels like to have the fate of one's job, one's car, or one's life hanging on shutting up and taking the attack in order to survive.
11
Our Republican (under the guise of being a Libertarian!) Dentist insisted on discussing and promoting his philosophy while he was in our mouths so my Husband and I have decided to dump him and go to more neutral territory. I should add that he clearly understood that we are of a different persuasion but insisted on talking about his political views.
5
"We met at the Republican convention.”
I don't ask a physician his or her political leanings, but a doctor who attends a Republican convention (to show support, not administer first-aid) is pretty serious.... much more serious than the average Republican voter. I'd find another doctor.
2
Only if he or she was a "Never Trump" Republican. I'd choose alternative medicine over a doctor who believes in alternative facts.
1
This is such a bad article and an even worse "study". The results are meaningless. Plus we all already know that there are harmful consequences of political polarization and dragging in the political party of medical doctors doesn't add anything. Most of the comments make the same broad stroke statements as the article- proving that the cart already knew where the horse was going.
3
Here's my Republican doctor story: I had a very good urologist for years with no problems whatsoever, despite my liberal leanings. Then one day the ACA (Obamacare) became the law of the land. At that point, when I went to my urologist for my annual checkup, he would spend the first 15 minutes or so castigating Obama, the ACA, and whining about how much money he was losing. I'm sure I wasn't the only patient he was unloading on. After a couple of times I told him to quit it and tend to my prostrate problems. The next time I went to him, he just picked up right where he left off, as if he was programmed to vent his frustrations to anyone within earshot. That was my last visit.
So, do I think his medical competence suffered as a result of his unhealthy obsession? I'm betting it did.
11
I would be suspicious of a republican doctor because of many issues I would assume they would support: bundling or unbundling treatment, tend to push big pharma products, Racial issues, etc. Prescribing unnecessary drugs and heavy into referrals to their political cronies.
4
I have fired two perfectly good specialists, not because of their political views, but because they insisted on abusing their authority as doctors by forcing patients to listen to Fox “News” in their waiting rooms.
I don’t equate competence in any field unrelated to politics on the basis of party affiliation. I do, however, consider membership in the Republican Party to be a sign of socially unethical and immoral personal views.
5
I think a better question is would a republican doctor treat me like one of their republican patient?. Aside from ego that some doctors display, will they be biased against me for not being white? As someone who has had to deal with many doctors due to caring for my grandmother and then my father, I have seen a lot of incompetence. If given the choice between a so-so democrat and a republican best in class doctor I would always choose the best in class doctor. The question "Am I getting best in class treatment?" would still be on my mind.
Doctors / Shockters - I quit going to my Republican dentist who, in the middle of a procedure, bemoaned the state of a country where retired people took jobs at grocery stores just for the benefits that were offered. Sure, I too would take a grocery checkout position for all the benefits they provide. But then I would have to be a Republican to be that gullible.
As a simple rule - don't patronize any provider who insists on gratuitously flaunting his/her politics.
3
no one has caught onto the fact that the research presented in the article might perhaps be one of the shapes. the title is about republican doctors but the article is about people going with their own beliefs rather than facts. i think you might have all fallen into the trap of tribalism . people have been responding politically because of the title and for almost no other reason. and no i would not go to a republican doctor even if he or she went to Kinkaid {the best school in Houston). to be an active republican these days is to be a follower of the blind, the cruel and the hating greed that dominates them.
2
A friend was seeing a woman who practiced alternative treatments for various conditions. Once in conversation she told him she had voted for trump. I said, you know you can't see her anymore.
Why?
Seriously could you ever trust her judgement about anything.
He no longer sees her.
6
LOL, as a Democrat I would actually think that a Republican doctor would be more buttoned up and professional. I'd be fine with it, it would be more about the chemistry between myself and the doctor and whether he/she took my concerns seriously.
Depends on the type of doctor. If I needed any sort of mental health treatment, I would not see a Republican though. Otherwise, I could care less. If I have to get into politics with my doctor, something is wrong.
1
Interesting question. I would not go to an evangelical, ultra-right wing, or tea party Republican doctor. A sensible Republican md, yes. My father was a "rockefeller republican" his whole life. At age 10, I was an Eisenhower Republican and leafletted my neighborhood with my "I Like Ike" flyers and pins. I still like Ike, but the GOP has devolved into an anti-science, anti-public health, anti-planet, anti-woman disgrace, kept in power only by vast sums from the Kochs, the NRA, and that travesty bill Citizens United (corporations untied).
7
I had an electrician come by the house to give me an estimate on some work. We walked out to his pickup afterwards and I saw a trump sticker on it. I called him later and said I had taken care of it.
If we're not willing to put our money where your mouth is what's the point? I no longer deal with Beans of Maine for exactly the same reason.
7
The grizzled old desert hippies who did the tile in my bathroom listened to right wing radio all day. But their tile work was fantastic. Lining up tile and cutting it correctly has nothing to do with politics.
And I am against Apartheid, be it racial or political or whatever.
But with medicine, there are places where politics can change a doctor's approach to a patient. I have seen that.
2
I guess it depends whether that Republican doctor believes I have a right to comprehensive reproductive healthcare of my choosing.
2
I once had a doctor try to throw me out of an inpatient hospital too early. I told him I wasn't well enough yet to be released. He wanted to kick me out because he knew my expenses were covered by Medicare, and he screamed in my face:
"I pay for your Medicare!"
Yes, he was a Republican.
5
A decade or more ago this wouldn't be a subject to discuss, but with the GOP increasingly going rogue and it's supporters subject to its distortions and shiny objects (tax cuts, anyone?), I now question anyone who identifies and supports the Republican party and their agenda in its current format. I have two friends, one actually a doctor, how have been life long Republicans and the MD actually voted for Trump. This will not end our friendship, but it has strained it.
4
The example of choosing a doctor is a loaded example. There's an important takeaway in the article which is unfortunately obscured by the very real fact that a health care provider's philosophy will almost certainly interfere with their ability to offer appropriate treatment e.g. abortions for unwanted pregnancy.
The "halo effect" extends to many other areas of life, and we would do well not to unthinkingly embrace our friends' viewpoints. I remember a friend of mine saying that forcing people with drug resistant tuberculosis to complete their antibiotics courses was a violation of their civil rights.
It actually took several similarly misguided opinions from this individual before I realized that she was seriously lacking in critical judgement. And that the only reason that I'd given any consideration to this opinion was because we shared a similar outlook in many other areas -- including belonging to the same political party!
1
I would go to the best doctor, and I mean in terms of medical expertise.
We must reignite the understanding that there are more things which unite Americans than divides them.
1
Given the current state of the GOP, It’s not unreasonable to question the appropriateness—or even the competence—of a physician based upon party affiliation.
One of the properties I most value in choosing a physician is the ability to keep up with current developments in scientific research. In recent years, the Republican Party has made no secret of its disdain for science. It has rejected the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. Republicans are likely to disregard scientific studies when they conflict with their views on evolution, LGBT parenting, the economic impact of immigration, and other topics. It seems to me that, in choosing a dermatologist, I would have valid reasons to be concerned that a Republican might not be up on current developments in medical science.
Another trait I look for in a physician is compassion. It’s hard for me to imagine how a compassionate person would affiliate with a political party that has embraced white nationalism, that sees “America first” as defining principle of foreign policy, that seeks to turn away refugees fleeing war, oppression, and gang violence, that supports policies that suppress the rights of women and minorities, and on and on.
Perhaps the problem here is that we’re talking a physician. I’d hire a Republican waiter, barber, cab driver, or gardener, no problem. But if we’re talking about a job where scientific knowledge and basic human compassion are going to play a role, I’m not looking to GOP voters.
4
In, I think, 2006 my state was voting on whether to allow medical research using stem cells. One day at my long-time dermatologist I found pamphlets all around his office (including on his checkout counter where they couldn't be missed) urging the defeat of the bill because he opposed the use of stem cells. I never saw him again.
3
Irony. Its alive in the comment section.
The article uses science to show why choosing a Doctor based on their political views is "ripe for a host of mistakes" but then the comments are full of people saying they would choose a Doctor based on their political views.
One of the main reasons given? Because Republican don't believe in science.
Apparently, those folks don't believe in the science of the article.
Or only like science that supports what they believe. I think I read about a scientific study that said people do that.
5
I think this opinion piece has it reversed. The onus should be on the professional, in this case medical doctors, to ensure their political views do not affect their practice. I would be skeptical of seeing any doctor that claims his/her "moral" view to not assist same-sex couples with fertility, to offer only some options on unwanted pregnancies, or believe certain races are more pain-tolerant.
The medical doctors are the more powerful in a doctor-patient relationship, since they have the medical knowledge. Thus I put the onus on the medical doctors to prove that politics does not affect their performance.
2
An unrelated way in which people behave is to confine well developed cognitive skills to selected kinds of activities, compartmentalizing, rather than to all relevant kinds of activities where they apply. Thus the physician who rationally determines diagnoses and treatments but who invests money according to the same psychological irrationality as do most people. But indicates that another explanation for the results of this blats experiment is to be found in people following another psychological explanation.
People have a preference to affiliate with likeminded people to form groups that improve their ability to live better and to raise offspring by cooperating. A side effect are treating each other with loyalty and outsiders mistrustfully.
2
I stopped seeing a psychiatrist who was a Trump supporter. At one of our last meetings, I explained my stress and anxiety over the 2016 election, and how I had attended a Trump rally recently. Her response: "oh, I was there too!"
I had gone as a social experiment, and nearly had a panic attack on the way there.
6
I wouldn't see a Trump supporting mental health professional if the treatment were free. Politics tend to come up a lot in those settings.
5
Knowing a patient's political leanings should not affect a doctor's assessment of how honest a patient is — or whether that patient's reported ache or pain is something to be further investigated. In other words, it should not affect the doctor's assessment of how good a patient is at evaluating the import of his or her symptoms. But unless doctors are not people, this article suggests that it does. If I'm going to be diagnosed by someone, why would I entrust that process to someone who has a bias toward me?
3
I‘m a female doctor. My patient‘s political leanings are of course irrelevant. But when choosing a physician for myself or my family I‘d absolutely avoid a Republican if the presenting problem were at all connected to women‘s issues. I would not trust them to set their bias aside.
8
If all I knew about a doctor was their political affiliation, yes I would probably avoid the Republican option. But if all I know about a doctor is their political affiliation, I need to find out more about that doctor.
4
I tend to not be able to hide my politics when talking to people, and I'd like to have a nice rapport with my doctor. I doubt they'd want to hear me be all liberal, and I know I won't want to hear them complain about Obama or something. I know that not all would. Most would be more professional than this TMI patient. I do know that I haven't gone to get my eyes checked in 4 years because the last time I went the doctor complained about the ACA and Obama, and I was really aggravated by it. He is/was a good doctor and one of the ones that would work with patients without insurance, but I'm already anxious about going for checkups. That's enough to deter me from going altogether.
2
The people who have commented here in the negative really need to reassess their priorities. It does not matter what political party ones physician belongs to, what matters is the level of care one receives.
6
Since the left and right have different views on certain issues in science and medicine, it could make a difference. A Republican doctor for example might have a political objection to writing a medical marijuana recommendation for pain and might prefer to give opioids instead. That does seem to be happening. I have observed it. And a left wing vegan doctor might try to get patients to eat soy. Soy is very bad for me personally. So neither the anti-marijuana conservative or the soy-pushing vegan lefty is going to win my trust as a patient.
1
I think, in the case of an avid trump supporter, I would have to say that this could very well be an issue for me. To be an avid Trump supporter says a lot about a person's values, their respect for diversity, honesty and most of all the respect of evidence-based truth. I would prefer to deal professionally, whenever possible, with people who do not profess a love of Trumpism.
3
Republicanism is associated in my mind with untrustworthiness and some combination of defects in character, intelligence, or intellectual honesty, so I long swore that I would never let an overtly Republican doctor operate on me. Consulting a neurosurgeon about a spinal problem, I noticed he had anti-Obamacare screeds posted on his office wall.
I was so desperate to take care of my back issue I proceeded with surgery, which was not a success. Two years later I lead a restricted life, wishing that I had been guided by my original intuition.
3
I don’t think the experiment discussed in this article encompasses all of the considerations that would influence the decision to select a physician based in part on political affiliation.
Although, I would probably rather not know the political affiliation of my doctors, the fact is that judgement is important as well as formal credentials. A scientific or medical professional who affiliates with a political party that has disrespect and outright hostility to science and its methods is suspect. It is entirely rational to take that into consideration.
2
I think that it wouldn't matter to me in many cases, but certain things would be dealbreakers. Supporting Trump for example: he is extremely anti-science and treats women badly. Being able to ignore that means a lack of judgement I wouldn't want in my doc. Or if I had issues with a pregnancy: most Republicans will not have my best interests at heart.
3
There are certain fields of medicine where the political leanings of physicians can potentially affect the care they provide. First of all, it is well known that liberal-leaning physicians more often populate the the primary care fields, which require greater understandings of and sympathy for the socioeconomic conditions of patients. Conservative-leaning physicians are more often found in the surgical and high-paying internal medicine subspecialties (with the exception of Infectious Diseases, a low-paying field that actually has the most liberal-minded doctors in it). The entire field of women's healthcare, including abortion services, has been highly politicized. A conservative physician might not be as willing to provide the full care options to a woman seeking (or even considering) birth control or an abortion. The care provided to indigent populations could also vary based on political leanings. Would a conservative physician who believes that poverty is a completely self-inflicted problem go out of his/her way to compassionately provide the extra care these patients need?
2
Here's an experiment.
Produce a less than genuine article about preferences of patients for physicians who agree with their politics. Then harvest the comments and research them for genuinely expressed biases (or lack thereof).
2
What's wrong with wanting to know the political affiliations of the people with whom you do business, especially those responsible for informing you of medical options? It is appropriate for me not to put money in the pockets of political enemies, which might be used to support candidates who do not have my interests in mind, and for me to place my trust only in those whom I can be reasonable certain share my sense of the importance of truth, and of all people, especially women. I can have no confidence that anyone willing to elect an affiliate of the Republican party does. What expresses one's values more clearly than one's political affiliation?
2
"Our results also suggest some harmful consequences of political polarization."
I recall reading about the political polarization that happened between the British colonies in America and the Great Britain itself. Again, as I recall it ended up in warfare.
But, here we are a new and some might say greater country than had that "political polarization" not occurred. Sure there are, arguably, harmful aspects of political polarization but there is no way for a social scientist to predict the long-term positive or negative consequences of that polarization.
Not all Republicans are alike. So for me, I would see a doctor who is a Republican, but I would not see any Republican doctor who I knew voted for or supports Trump and his rhetoric. Anyone unable to see through this conman - prior to the election - gives me pause about his or her insight, intelligence, and knowledge even if a proclaimed medical expert in a particular field. There are many doctors out there.
2
I am a liberal New Yorker living the South. My doctor is a Republican. She is one of the best GPs I’ve experienced. Two years ago I was having all sorts of issues. Several specialists, and large health bills later it wasn’t until I started seeing her that my underlying cause was diagnosed. She believes in universal health care, she cares for her patients, she is extremely educated, she devotes time doing free clinics for under resourced communities. I find this binary ideology, and continuity of party over people damaging. Everyday I engage with members of my community who have differing political views, and perspectives. I’m not interested in the idea of placing people into a narrative that fits my needs. It is important to see people and their many layers. So yes I would and do go to a Republican doctor.
6
The comments here are fascinating in that some readers actually think that their physician cares what category (political, religious, sexual, etc.) the patient places themselves into. Most primary care MDs see 40-50 patients per day, so they really don't have time to think past your name and current problem. As a specialist, one is even more concentrated on the physical task or diagnosis one is being paid (hopefully more than free care, Medicaid, or Medicare) to work on. Most physicians are fiscally conservative and socially liberal, so you may have more similar views than you think. More hypocritical are myriad "upstanding" righteous patients who quietly abuse alcohol and illegal drugs, mistreat and pummel spouses and children, cycle through psychiatric prescriptions for social use (Ritalin, Ativan, Xanax, Ambien come to mind), and use abortion as primary birth control for their minor daughters. In my estimation, this group is split 50/50 between the political parties, so don't feel too smug in either camp. Republican or not, physicians have to treat these patients with the same respect and care as all other comers.
3
The responses from other readers boil down to one observation: sometimes traits ARE correlated; i.e., the fact that your doctor is a Republican might indeed have some bearing on his/her attitude towards women, lesbians, science, etc. The authors are doing us a much-needed service to point out the dangers of thinking too tribally, but that doesn't make all tribal thinking incorrect.
3
Almost all the doctors in my town are conservative Republican Baptists with offices decorated with Christian brick-a-brack, so when I saw this headline,"would you see a republican doctor?," my first thought was, you mean there's a choice???
6
Ask opinion of a doctor who does not believe in the evolution? how about crossing a bridge made by an engineer who does not believe in math? both are dangerous.
Republicans are the party of anti-science, not just racists.
3
EA evolution doesn't figure into medicine except at the research end of the game and they do not treat patients.
And as far as engineers go, actually there are many who don't believe in math, in the sense that they are perennially skeptical and eternally unimpressed when it comes to fancy math as used for example in theoretical physics. One professor summed it up for me: Engineers design according to empirical models that are crafted to fit the data. Math in and of itself holds no truck with many engineers.
What woman in her right mind would go to a male Trump-supporting gynecologist?
6
Would you go to a doctor who had a different racial, religious, or ethnic background from yours? If you were in a health care system, would you demand to be transferred away? Oh ha ha, that's a different issue - isn't it?
3
In my experience, it seems that General/Family Practice docs are Democrats, and specialists (except Psych) are Republicans. I've bounced this notion off several doctor acquaintences, who say it makes perfect sense.
1
I do not believe those who say they would not go to a doctor if they new that person's political/personal convictions were the opposite of theirs.
Let's say you need a complicated surgical procedure and had the choice between the best surgeon for that particular surgery who holds positions that you despise or someone not as highly rated, but more in tune with you. Would you honestly risk your life for your pride? I'm a life long Democrat who voted for HRC, but I would choose the best even if he/she was wearing a MAGA hat.
3
there are legitimate reasons to be concerned. does she believe in evolution? does she believe that climate change is caused by human behavior? does she put her personal beliefs above human health choices (abortion, etc)? does she believe there is a hole in the ozone layer caused by human activity (republicans didn’t used to)? smoking cause cancer (republicans didn’t used to believe this)?
remember terri schiavo? republicans, even some doctors who never evaluated her, were certain she wasn’t brain dead. post mortem tests revealed otherwise.
1
Medicine, like many conservative professions, has mostly repub members. This is due to many reasons- like begats like, wealth typically attracts repub types and many MD's are wealthy. When you enteract with an MD in the exam room- you either approve, develop a rapport- or not. Politics really only has a place if it actively interferes with this relationship- most of the time- it doesnt
How tribal! The comments suggest people do not even understand the article, much less how their own bias may be interfering with their quality of care.
I'm a straight, married white male and I vote as an independent. My doctor and accountant are very different than me. I want their expertise not somebody that shares my lifestyle and political opinions.
What's next: Seeking liberal, vegan doctor that supports the Sierra Club?
7
I have never known my doctors' political views, nor they, mine. I would like to keep it that way for good medical relations.
4
This is ridiculous. Common sense tell you not to go to any doctor who doesn't agree that a woman's body is her's to do with has she pleases. If a woman woke one morning to find the pregnancy test positive and she doesn't want to have another child then she would be an idiot to make an appointment with any doctor whom she suspects as being Republican. However, if she were to fall off the roof of her house and break her leg, yet refuses to allow the Republican Orthopedist Surgeon on call to treat her because of his political standings then she is still and idiot.
I'm more comfortable talking to a female doctor than a male but that is not going to influence my choice on choosing the proper, and I hope better skilled doctor.
1
I will tell you this, I won't go to a democrat accountant!
1
Many Republicans, even doctors, do not accept evolution. Such unwillingness to study the overwhelming evidence for biological evolution has to inhibit their ability to reason about how to treat the human body. I would not choose to employ someone who maintains such contradictions in their minds.
3
I'm totally astounded to read these comments! Do these people actually KNOW anyone who is a Republican or have they just decided what Republicans believe or how they will behave based on something they ASSUME? I know many Republicans and am one myself, and I would never treat a gay person any differently than I would treat one who is a heterosexual - in fact, I would most likely not even think about the person's sexual orientation or their race or their politics. Most Republicans that I know are human beings and treat others as fellow humans, regardless of their political beliefs.
What on earth have we come to that people believe these things? Republicans are NOT Rasputin or the devil incarnate! Can we not "agree to disagree" on political issues and still respect one another as fellow humans? What if I said I would never hire someone who voted for Hillary? I would quickly be pilloried and rightly so, but it does work both ways, doesn't it? Oh - I forgot - it actually DOESN'T work both way!
What a scary world this has become today. I fear greatly for my dear eldest grandson when he goes off to his Ivy league college in the fall, if it is discovered that he registered as a Republican when he turned 18 this spring.
5
"Most Republicans that I know are human beings and treat others as fellow humans, regardless of their political beliefs." So interesting. Approx 3/4 of the people in my midwestern town are registered republicans and the vast majority of those I interact with on a daily basis, can -- and do -- treat "others" differently, and in many cases, very differently. And not in a good way. You see, most people "assume" because my family looks just like them and has a similar ability to afford a certain kind of lifestyle -- that we also "believe" the same things. The amount of racism, vitriol, prejudice, misogyny, name-calling, anti-science talk that I've come across is simply breath taking.
Also, do you not understand how truly insulting -- and ignorant -- your last statement is? Seriously. Your poor dear grandson going off to an ivy league school to get an extraordinary education. Sheesh.
3
Yes, it is a scary world—scarier than many who were not paying sufficient attention could have imagined just a few years ago—because Trump is in the White House. To enumerate the ways in which Trump is undermining our republic as well as basic human decency is beyond the scope of this comment section. But please do me a favor. Watch the video in which Trump mocks a disabled reporter. Just do that one thing. Forget about the daily assaults on reason, truth, science, and morality we have witnessed every day of his campaign and every day since he took office. Just watch that one video. Now, tell me, who in good conscience would think such a person should ever be the leader of a nation whose future they truly care about? If a Republican or Democrat or Independent voted for Trump, I do not think he or she has the sufficient moral judgment or character to be my doctor. If that is harsh, then think about what is at stake, especially for your grandson, with this dangerously unstable man as president. Would I have allowed a Republican doctor who voted for McCain or Romney to operate on me? Yes. I thought both were the wrong choice, but voting for them was not a morally corrupt gesture. If a physician is so cynical about our future and/or willfully ignorant as to why Trump is unfit for office, I could not trust his or her medical judgement. Compassionate Republicans who care about our future, as you seem to do, need to be honest about how dangerous Trump's presidency really is.
3
Wow, you are all crazy. What does talent as a good doctor have to do w the way a person votes? At 78 years old I've never had a political discussion w my doctor except for him telling me how awful it is practicing today. He says I used to be a medical doctor, now I'm a provider.
(NYT will not publish this mail?)
2
I try never to discuss politics with doctors or anyone else.
When I do, I'm usually disappointed.
2
I would like a doctor that doesn't think a fetus is disposable because the mother would be inconvenienced by having a baby. I would NEVER go to a democrat doctor.
Yeah, but I avoid the Catholic ones.
Linda Lingle did a good job with Medicaid delivery in Hawaii, Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, and Gary Johnson in New Mexico.
1
Ok, then how does one choose a surgeon, by how cheerful she greets you ?
1
I rarely know a doctor’s political leanings - but, if I know a doctor is a Republican, I am much less likely to want to see that doctor. Being a Republican today, in particular, connotes being racist, narrow-minded, bigoted, misogynistic, authoritarian, selfish, and just plain stupid and mean-spirited. I don’t want a doctor like that.
4
Don't forget disbelieving of and antagonistic to science, and willfully ignorant. Those attributes, especially in someone you're expected to trust with your life, are scary.
2
Many of the things that are catrgorized as cognitive mistakes are probably there for a very good evolutionary reason. We are often taught to distrust emotional responses when it may be true the subconscious mind has far greater computing power than the conscious decision-making ability. Finding "blats" is absolutely NOT a reasonable model for determining the characteristics you want in a doctor. With the number of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed problems out there, the worst thing a doctor could do or be, in my opinion, is a bad listener. I would expect a Republican in 2018 to be so wrapped up in their own greed, preconseptions, possibly even fundamemtalism, that they would have trouble listening to me, or ingesting data in general.
3
Why shouldn't willing affiliating yourself with a party that denies scientific facts say something about your ability to be a good doctor?
4
I would not trust any professional person that voted for this President or the Bush Jr. for a second term.
the lack of judgement displayed in those affiliations would trump any qualifications.
3
To answer your specific question: women and minorities should be aware of the politics of their doctors. These republican doctors tend to disrespect women's concerns and are biased.
1
I go to a very good dentist who is a very loyal conservative Republican, who is extremely critical of Liberal Democrats. We probably would get into an argument every time we discussed law or politics. I keep my concerns on dental issues and we do fine.
2
Simple answer: No.
Republicans don't believe in science. But they do believe in lies, corruption, tax breaks for the rich, racism, bigotry, intolerance, etc.
Why would I see a physician who is dedicated to the destruction of society and the American culture?
5
Yes, but only if he or she is an osteopath.
How can Republicans be doctors when they don't believe in science?
3
They believe in making lots of money.
We keep seeing these shock headlines, but they have a habit of turning out to be some esoteric psych experiment that may or may not translate to real life, which is so much more messy than in the lab.
And in the process we get all kinds of hysterical responses in the comment section.
1
All other things being equal, why in this political climate would I want to buy goods and services - or seek treatment, God forbid - from some jerk who identifies with the current iteration of the GOP. It's a nasty, willfully ignorant bunch - to the extreme in the Age of Trump. I'll keep as much distance as possible.
4
I would absolutely go to a republican doctor! I hope this doctor is paid by big pharma, and he will finally prescribe me a treatment for my long-standing health condition - a condition that badly affects my life for a long time; a condition repeatedly bashed by NYTimes as "non-existent" or "invented by big pharma" or something like that. But the real problem is that doctors never openly disclose their political views.
Now, speaking seriously...
I would go to a _competent_ doctor. I don't care of a color of a chicken as long as it gives me eggs. In the same way, I don't care about doctor's political stance as long as he is professionally and effectively addresses my health problems.
Before Trump, yes. After Trump, no.
3
This type of narrow mindedness is the parlance to a sectarian society, hard to believe that the “educated” answer, is to avoid people who think differently than you? Really...look carefully and see objectively because a racist society comes in many forms...
1
Why isn't this article titled, "Would You Go to a Democratic Doctor?" Let me guess. The writer does not know a single Republican, therefore, it is a moot point.
1
It's nonsense to judge anyone by their political affiliation. I think that should rank up there with race, religion and sex. Doctors are people too. I have taken care of many lesbian patients and now a few transgender patients as well. Treat everyone with respect and try to help everyone you can.
My personal physicians have been Jewish, gay and even Lutheran. They all treated me well and I wouldn't try to tell them who to vote for. I'll save that job for my union representatives.
1
I would not go to a republican doctor because I am a woman.
1
When a traditional drug used to treat your condition has been denied to you because it might affect children you have no hope of having, the doctor's views are definitely an underlying reason for the decision. It doesn't mean that all Republicans would treat the same, but, in my case, I asked another doctor and the medicine was given right out to me. And it has helped.
2
"Knowing a person’s political leanings should not affect your assessment of how good a doctor she is..."
One of the qualities I look for in a "good doctor" is a concern for my health. Acquiescence or support for the tenets and behavior of the modern republican party is a real red flag in the whole "caring" department, especially for those of us that are easily discovered to be "not republican".
1
Good grief. I've been blessed with very good health, but I have seen both primary care and specialists over my 70 years.
I have never inquired about the political leanings of any of those doctors. I looked for the same attribute I look for in car mechanics, and in possible additions to my business staffs: competence.
Let me be clear: good grief.
2
The comments here are so crazy I don't if I should laugh or cry. I'm the head of an 18 member physician group whose members' political views run the gamut. I would be happy to have any of them care for me or my family.
4
My husband and I were patients at a medical office near our home in New Jersey, and we came to the office to be treated for bronchitis.
When we arrived, we were taken aback to see that the married doctors who owned the practice had put out fliers for the then-Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey.
Worse, they had put up posters on waiting room walls for this candidate. As we learned later, these two doctors are both Republicans and Christian evangelicals, and they gave themselves the license to proselytize their political and religious beliefs in their medical office!
I still can't believe that they did this.
It gets worse: when I entered the treatment room, one of the doctors diagnosed me with severe bronchitis.
But as I began hacking away, with an uncontrollable cough, he said, and I quote, because I'll never forget his words: "How is your relationship with God?"
I would like to say that I told him off, or that I told him straight out that I'm an agnostic, a committed environmentalist, a kind person, etc.
I wish I had told him to go jump into a lake of his own piety, in other words.
Instead, I politely changed the subject.
That was the last day that my husband and I stepped into that medical office.
Again, I still cannot believe that these Republican, Evangelical doctors were so blinded by their fundamentalist faith that they treated their patients in this way.
10
Yes, it’s a violation of a doctors professional responsibility and if they’re relationship with patients to push either their politics or religion on patients. It wouldn’t matter to me how good they were, because nobody is that good.
1
I've already had two conservative doctors. The first one insisted that I take an opioid after surgery and refused to consider the possibility that marijuana could help and told me that was just a hippie hoax and there was no science whatsoever to it.
The second one listened patiently when I described the different problems I had with various food intolerance -- problems I've spent the last 20 years systematically isolating through many trials of withdrawal and reintroduction. Avoiding these foods is what keeps me on the lowest possible dose of an immune suppressant. Then he pooh-poohed the whole thing and said I was being ridiculous and food has nothing to do with my illness at all.
Doctors with old-fashioned notions about drugs and food I believe would tend to be Republican.
Another thing I don't want is a vegan doctor. I cannot tolerate plant sources of protein like nuts and soy. That's the main issue I was able to isolate through trial and error over 20 years. So I get most of my protein from chicken and lamb. I can imagine getting pseudoscientific lectures from left wing vegan doctors over that. They can save that for some other patient. I am not going to sit still for that.
I have never asked a physician about their political leanings but I always take the time to find out where they went to medical school, the number of years they have been in practice, and their areas of expertise. As a female with two teen daughters, however, I steer clear of physicians who practice under the umbrella of a Catholic health system.
6
I would not go to a Republican doctor. First as a gay man, people he or she supports want to take away my marriage and place me in second class status (e.g., supporting bigoted merchants who would refuse to allow me as a customer). Whether doc believes that or not , it's in the GOP platform. Also, doc votes for policies that favor profit over the individual. Meaning that people doc supports fight for higher insurance deductibles, higher co-payments, shorter treatment sessions, non-negotiation of drug prices, surprise costs in emergency room situations, and generic treatment methods that do not allow for outside the box circumstances. Again, it's in the GOP platform. One has to have trust in one's doctor. How can I trust someone who doesn't believe in my inherent dignity as a human being?
5
"Knowing a person’s political leanings should not affect your assessment of how good a doctor she is." Why not?
I wouldn't go to a doctor who took diagnostic guidance from their God or refused to accept the principles of evolution. I wouldn't go to an accountant who viewed the Federal government as unlawful insofar as it collects taxes. I wouldn't go to an architect to design my business office who was an Ayn Rand acolyte.
Of course not all Republicans dismiss evolution, or the need for taxation, or Ayn Rand's libertarian politics - but those currently in power certainly do.
So, no I would not go to an overtly Republican doctor. I'm not sure what I would do were I to find out sometime after we had developed a Doctor/Patient relationship that she was a Republican. Confrontation, certainly, but she had better have a darn good excuse.
3
It is not the political party affiliation that matters.
It is the actions that would, or would not, be taken in the case of pregnancy issues, vaccination and end of life issues, and whether all patients will be treated equitably.
3
This article assumes that the political opinions of all people involved are more or less reasonable and arguable. Unfortunately this is no longer the case in the United States.
I have an in-law who is an electrical engineer. I would trust him implicitly on any issue pertaining to electronics (not that these come up very often in my life), but he is a Trump supporter. Even if I knew nothing else about him I would know that his understanding of the ACA is dismal, that his knowledge of American and modern European history is limited, that he probably never heard of John Maynard Keynes, and that he has no real sympathy for people who are not well-to-do white Americans.
In many real world situations the "halo effect" is quite warranted. Not always, Ben Carson was a brilliant surgeon, and I certainly would have trusted him to operate on one of my children had it been necessary. But how far do I want to trust a guy who believes the pyramids were for grain storage?
2
I'll take either an independent or apolitical doctor, thanks.
Too much zealotry on either side is an indicator of an inability to objectively assess data. Not exactly something I want in a physician.
1
Republican politicians are clearly anti-science, especially when it comes to policies that affect the bottom line of their wealthy supporters. Doctors who support these politicians are either willing to overlook Republican anti-science behavior in order to benefit their own wealth or they agree with the anti-science positions Republican politicians take. Either way, it is rational to question their judgment.
5
As a physician and a liberal, I wouldn't hesitate to go to a doctor who merely happened to be a Republican. Having been the recipient of military health care for many years, it would have been unavoidable. That said, I would never go to anyone with a reputation for bad character, whatever their politics.
Back when I saw patients routinely, I didn't judge or hector them and I certainly stayed away from personal information that wasn't relevant to the issues at hand.
I would consider anyone who rejected my services because of my personal beliefs a bigot with a sad misunderstanding of how the vast majority of doctors and other health care professionals see their patients and their jobs.
9
Same with teachers, btw.
If a doctor's political leanings come out during their interactions with a patient in a manner materially detrimental to a patient's well-being, they shouldn't be doctors.
4
It's one thing to do this experiment with blaps, and quite another with members of a political party that has actively disavowed science. So, yes, I would question the ability of a physician who is a member of that party to provide care that is in my best interest.
3
These comments about republican doctors are infuriating and outright wrong, not to mention hypocritical. Liberals claim they are tolerant, yet paint everyone with the same brush. They are the ones who are blindly intolerant of any views that differ from their own.
My father was a registered republican physician/researcher/surgeon/professor at a major hospital in Philadelphia. He voted for Obama twice. He also saved thousands of lives in his 50+ year career. He also lost a nephew in the 80s to AIDS. He was distraught for quite some time.
Do not paint all republicans with the same brush. My father took the hyppocratic oath when he graduated from medical school, and he stuck by it. First do no harm...
7
Unfortunately we're witnessing evolutionary psychology at its worst. The tribal instinct that served our prehistoric ancestors so well mellennia ago is badly failing us now.
1
I would guess most docs. are qRepublicans. The folks we know are, and our family, though liberal, has been in health care for generations.
My dentist began to make political comments with his receptionist that gave away their resentment of the Obama administration, but I've known him for thirty years, so I knew he was just going through a faze. That crash in 2008 had a lot of patients forgoing prevention work, so his bottom line was hurting. I've manage to keep him crowning my lesser achievements, even if I ride for the other side.
He's saved a half dozen of my teeth because he is the ultimate conservative, so I will return. I don't dislike Republicans like Jeff Flake, but I won't vote for them.
3
Even the headline betrays the bias of the Times? Why not would you go to a Democrat doctor?
As for the comments, they show that the left can be just as bigoted as the right. As a conservative, I don't ask the political leanings of medical professionals, or other business people for that matter. Amazingly, I judge medical professionals on the basis of the care that I receive. Shocking, huh?
6
Would you eat a meal cooked by a thief? Would you collect art made by a liar? Would you send your child to a school attended by children of different religions? Would you sit on a bus with people of different races? Or does everybody need to be exactly like YOU to be acceptable?
Is this a serious article?
2
The New York Times' Upshot column put out an article in 2016 that showed correlations with doctors' specialty, their salaries, and political party affiliation ("Your Surgeon is Probably a Republican, Your Psychiatrist Probably a Democrat"). Choosing which specialist to see is already more limited than choosing a primary care physician. Basically, expect any orthopedic surgeon you see to be a Republican.
I do go to a Republican doctor. He's a wonderful doctor but we don't talk politics or baseball, he's a Yankees fan.
2
I know a very excellent nurse anesthetist that I would not wish to have administer an anesthetic to me because of all the hateful pro-Trump (anti-immigration, pro-gun, etc.) vitriol that she posts on Facebook. The amount of time and energy that she devotes to these postings seem to indicate a degree of anger that would give me concern about what was in her mind during the procedure. Interestingly (and surprising to me), she is gay.
1
The vast majority of Republicans choose to believe lies about evolution, climate change, and how a woman's reproductive system works, among other things. Should I just hope that they choose to believe the scientific consensus around anything else?
1
I would never knowingly go to Doctor who I know to be a Democrat. I would be scared.
1
But what if my aim is not to do business with them? They are entitled to their views, but not my money or patronage.
2
Funny thing is I have no idea what the political affiliation of my doctors are nor my dentist. It is an irrelevant. Guess this must be a "progressive" thing and perhaps explains why "progressives" are so constrained in their thinking.
2
Not knowingly. My Republican, Catholic doctor tried in vain to convince my mother that I should give birth at 15.
My Republican, Catholic mother took me to Planned Parenthood instead.
Thank you, Mama. You gave me life and opportunity.
5
Republican doctor would be OK with me (life-long democrat), but I will never go back to the super Christian doctor I saw several years ago. He was a good doctor, but the Christian rock music that was blaring in the exam room while I waited for him to see me and the crucifixes everywhere made me very uncomfortable.
I would avoid doing any kind of business with a person who votes for Republicans, period! That includes the high-end hair stylist I dropped. She voted for Trump. I prefer to buy services or products from people who are more like me.
2
Republicans are climate-change deniers, against a woman's right to choose, tend to be bigots & racists, generally less educated, misinformed, and other support Trump or those who protect Trump. No, I would not go to a Republican doctor. I prefer a doctor who knows as much as possible and agrees with the prevailing science of the day.
1
The title of the piece suggests a bias by the authors or by those who came up with the title.
A far better title would have been : "Would you go to a doctor of the opposite party?
It is conceivable that anyone offering service may be influenced by the party of the recipient. But this treatment differential will exist, based on any grouping or association.
As a hat-wearing member of the NRA, I have gotten benefits, ranging from not getting traffic tickets to eating for free in a chain restaurant. I have not been in a situation, where I knew for sure, my NRA affiliation worked against me.
Definitely not, I like my doctors intelligent. I also won't buy any business that advertises with a Christan fish symbol. I don't want to support homophobia and idiocy.
2
If by "Republican" you mean a Trump supporter, absolutely not. There are enough poorly-informed bigots around without paying one.
There shouldn't be Republican doctors, because the GOP is the anti-science party. No science, no medicine.
1
Silly stuff.
I've been to lots of doctors over the last 20 years because of chronic problems and other things. I've had 14 surgeries as well.
I have never spoken about politics or religion with any of them. We talk about my care. That is why I'm there.
I can guess some of doctors such as my doctors with Jewish names. Some of the Irish named ones from up North are probably Roman Catholic. Their politics escape me in most cases but as I've noted I don't discuss politics with them. Besides, it wouldn't make any difference as to their competence and I don't believe any would give me substandard care because of what they think my religion and politics are. I pity those answering here who think it would make a difference.
2
It's bad enough that my pharmacist is a trump supporter. So I assume that also means he's a racist. I wouldn 't knowingly go to a Republican doctor because chances are he or she would be a racist or self-hating, too.
1
The Republican Party has, on multiple occasions, tried to strip people like my brother of basic access to healthcare. If the GOP got its way on healthcare, he'd probably be dead.
So why would I give my money to someone who probably donates to people who are trying to hurt members of my family?
On top of that, support for a Party that has become rabidly anti-fact and anti-science would be very concerning if I ultimately am supposed to trust this person with my health and physical wellbeing.
1
I I had an educated choice I would not go to a Republican doctor.
1
Don't discuss politics with your doctor. Most of them are Republican anyway.
1
Perhaps a generation ago political affiliation would have been unrelated to a physician’s competence. However, in the present era of “post-truth” Republicans, GOP positions and policies are fundamentally hostile to science and its party’s leaders are indifferent to their president’s compulsive lying. So, no, it would be folly to trust a such a doctor to be guided by an objective assessment of facts.
2
Not at this point. Anyone still identifying as a Republican in 2018 has signed on to an openly anti-science ideology, and I'd rather not have my doctor making medical decisions on the basis of magic and kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.
2
I suppose there must be some Republican doctors...but I work in Peds...not a single one in at least 4 specialty clinics.
Plus...I'd suspect that even the vast majority of docs who are Republican don't support any of the Republican machinations around healthcare.
The problem is more and more Republicans reject science. I wouldn't be comfortable with a doctor who believes it's all in God's hands.
1
I've found that unless you're a politician or involved in politics, smart, intelligent, and more than competent people in their respective field keep their political beliefs to themselves.
1
Are the results surprising? Do they support an extension of the "halo effect"? Tom Selleck, aka Police Commissioner Reagan, selling reverse mortgages on TV (in the manner of Robert Young - Marcus Welby, M.D. - selling coffee) requires a double dose of assumed association: someone we know is an actor but whose role gives his advertising the aura of authenticity. The Sharot-Sunstein experiment might suggest an "anti-halo effect", but remember: even Hitler was kind to his dog. (Some of us still have a sense of discernment.) Recognize, too, that a Republican doctor is probably more likely than a Democratic one to have been a "legacy" admission even to medical school!
No way would I see a Republican doctor.
Republicans are fundamentally unsound.
2
Love thou neighbor, be the change you want to see in the world...... If you hold democratic, liberal values of liberty, equality, tolerance, justice, compassion toward all people - walk the talk, be tolerant and treat fairly everyone. Reading majority of comments here, written by people who claim to be democrats but will not tolerate people with different opinions, is a harrowing experience. Tribal thinking, us versus them, discrimination of other people because of their believes is not democratic values, for sure. As Martin Luther King Jr. told "Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
2
Well said Emily. I have previously found the New York Times comment section to be pleasantly different from the rest of the nasty comment boards out there. But after reading these I’m worried that some people are letting other people’s perceived bigotry influence their own sad stereotyping.
Republican, schmepublican. If they don't support some form of universal health care, then no.
2
I'm sitting in a dental chair, mouth stretched wide open while a dentist rails against President Obama and Obamacare.
I finally waved him off, explained I supported the President and Obamacare's efforts to protect us from rapacious big pharma and insurance companies, offered to pay what I owed and left.
All I have as a 'just getting by' retiree is my vote and my checkbook. Small enough but they are all I have left to fight with.
Would this Republican doctor believe in science?
3
Sure I'd go to a republican doctor. Right after I invited D. Trump to judge my grand daughter's cheerleading contest.
2
The few M.D.'s I know outside of a professional situation happen to be of the party opposite mine. So what! They are still good people and very good doctors. Anybody who would refuse their services because of political leanings is just plain foolish.
I have no idea about the political leanings of my physicians. IMHO, that is how it should be.
2
If I felt comfortable with a doctor and they did an excellent job, I would not care what party they belonged to. I'm very liberal. I do not discuss politics during a medical visit as it is usually not relevant to the topic at hand. If it came up and there was a disagreement, I would likely not feel comfortable and thus would not return. Bedside manner is an important piece of the doctor-patient relationship and cannot be limited to political party. For all I know, doctors I did not like could be registered Democrats.
1
If one has to choose between two doctors, one of whom is associated with a political party openly hostile to science (which medicine is....kind of a big part of?), all else being equal, isn't it only logical that the non-Republican be chosen?
384
Merely being associated with the GOP does not automatically render one scientifically illiterate.
And let's talk about science under Clinton. Marijuana science. Which was a pretty fraudulent business until recently. The Gateway Theory that Bill Clinton loved so much was debunked scientifically while he was in office and he never said a thing. Every last bit of anti-marijuana propaganda announced as science by the Clinton and Bush administrations has been debunked by bigger, better and more ethically-conducted science.
Democrats have a past to answer for there too. But I agree, right now, the Republicans are scarier when it comes to rejecting science while doing medicine that depends on science.
15
This is not science in general but specific demonstrated expertize in a particular field. Thank you, but I would choose the parochial approach here --- which is serving my best interest.
7
I take Scott's point to mean that a D is more likely than an R (talking probabilities!) to be up on and accept science related to his/her field, and if otherwise evidence is nonexistent or inconclusive on either one, broad probability suggests the D is a better choice, given extremely limited information.
I'd add that profiteering and lack of compassion and empathy are other risks in picking a doctor, and the same probability evaluation would lead to the same conclusion.
None of this rules out or denies the existence of knowledgable, fair, compassionate and empathetic Rs, or the opposite in Ds, of any profession.
15
No, I would not. People have to be held accountable for the mess in this country they helped contribute too.
Of course, I would do research on my Democratic doctor to make sure he was competent. But a doctor's political beliefs can shape his professional judgement, or else why would he have them.
I do not do business with Republican companies like Walmart. I go to Costco instead.
1
Since I live in the city and have good access to many doctors I would prefer to see those I agree with politically. I actually have reservations about the intelligence and moral integrity of anyone who identifies as Republican.
1
There are reasons to shun a GOP doctor that have little to do with competence. In a close call, even where there is a marginal but small edge to the GOP doctor on some measure of professional competence, I might choose to the Dem doctor simply to withhold the income and reputational capital that she might enjoy from my patronage. The experiment assumes a rational choice model that simply may not fit the decision making rules of many individuals. This isn't suboptimization by the patient, it's simply a form of punishment of the doctor that has little cost to the patient.
Your experiment reminds me in a few ways of one that I did as an undergraduate in the 1960s. Two important limitations of your study are: (1) given that expertise in blapology was in fact nonexistent, perhaps some of the participants, recognizing this subliminally, chose to stick with people whose knowledge they more generally respected, and (2) not everybody, dear economists, is exclusively motivated by the opportunity to grab some extra cash. Finally, when it comes to choosing experts to work on/with me, technical expertise does not dominate--knowing that my physician understands me is far more important.
1
I'm a Democrat. My lawyer, accountant, and dentist are all Republicans. I don't know or care about my physician's political views. I also don't care about my dentist's politics. And I like that my lawyer and accountant are Republicans; they work hard to save me money. I wish we weren't so polarized.
4
I have no issue with a Doctor who is a Republican, per se. I would, however, definitely want to know up front whether his or her religious beliefs would ever interfere in delivering the gold standard of care. Given many in the GOP believe that "religious freedom" should allow doctors to omit or obfuscate about treatment options if they morally object to them, it can be downright dangerous to women to be treated by such a doctor. I am not saying a doctor should be forced to perform a procedure they morally object to, but they should be required by law to present ALL the treatment options and provide a referral should the patient decide to go with that option. Do no harm.
4
A few years ago I never would have thought about a professional person’s politics.
But I sure do now.
Whether it’s a medical doctor or a tennis pro, a Trump/Republican professional person is someone to be avoided simply because they have resolutely forsaken their own credibility.
I don’t believe anything a Republican tells me these days.
6
Unfortunately do to family circumstances I had to seek medical care for my late wife for a very rare cancer. Through the process I had to do a lot of research and found only a handful of doctors that had patients with a long term survival.
I met with all 3 of them. Politics never once came up. What did come up was will your insurance pay for the treatment.
I'm very happy to go to Republican doctors who are competent, ethical and straight forward. I'm not happy that Republican Congressman, Senators and Presidents are willing to allow private insurance carriers to provide substandard coverage without full disclosure.
5
I would actively avoid a republican doctor. Why? I worry that republican doctors won't take good care of women who need birth control or abortions. I worry that republican doctors will report patients of less than perfect immigration status to ICE and I worry that patients will not trust such doctors with important information if it relates at all to their immigration status. I worry that republican doctors would disapprove of some of peoples' habits, making them reluctant to give their doctor a full picture of their health. Whether or not these apply to me personally is irrelevant here; I do not wish to support someone whose values, if put into action, would cause harm to others. I do not believe that most republicans, even if they claim that they are doctors first, could follow the dictum, First do no harm. Republican policies against national health care, abortion rights, gun foolishness, caring for the indigent and so on are among the most harmful this country has ever seen. As a physician myself, I must put my patients first, which is not something that present policy, as per the republican Congress, supports. So, Nope. I would not have a republican as my physician.
5
Are you so sure that politics tells one nothing relevant? What if you learn that Dr. X sees the world in black and white and believes that people should defer to authority and that medicine should use only treatments proven by two double-blind studies? Would you feel the same way about advice from him as you would about advice from Dr. Y, who is interested in alternative medicine because she thinks there are many things about endocrinology that we don't fully understand? Those differences might very well be signaled by politics. (Either might be better, but do you really feel certain that it's irrelevant?)
1
All I know is that my doctor distrusts the entire medical/pharmaceutical industrial complex. That's good enough for me.
3
The GOP is evil, right? So their docs must be evil, as well.
4
Everything is NOT political. Academics have been corrupted with money, just as every other category of American life has, and WE all know money/greed has taken over the health care complex.
I choose providers who are most honest and understand it is MY body - not their lab or corporate welfare card. Many providers push expensive medications and/or treatments and try to give multiple referrals that are not necessary. I refuse to keep seeing them. The "humane" providers find more affordable alternatives or admit the meds aren't necessary.
WE THE PEOPLE - patients - must stop "trusting" every medical provider because many do not have OUR best interests at heart. They are "practicing" medicine. Do not let your body be a test lab unless you specifically join a formal study. WE are the only ones who can change the system by challenging things we do not understand or agree with and refusing to go along with procedures we don't deem necessary.
Sad that it has come to this.
4
I would prefer that my physician be grounded in reality. In spite of solid evidence to the contrary, the Republican party supports the notions that climate change is a hoax and that tax cuts for the wealthy will result in smaller deficits. Credentials or not, I would have a hard time trusting a doctor who buys into these fantasies.
2
If the developmental process of life has led one to see all humans as they see themselves, then the choices made by those who see others as fearfully different, would be suspect. As a practicing physician for 35 years, I witnessed the medical school dictum, "It's not how much you know that matters, but how much you care," as a qualitative description of doctoring. The heart does appear to have reasons the head doesn't always understand.
To the extent that politics is divisive, it isn't representative of the innate unity of humanity. To the extent that the art of healing lacks heart, technical skills become it's highest achievement.
2
Chances are excellent that I wouldn't have a friend who went to the Republican convention in the first place. People's politics are generally a reflection of who they are and what they value. I wouldn't necessarily seek to know what my doctor's politics were, but finding out they were the opposite of mine would disturb me. I quit seeing an excellent ophthalmologist once I discovered she was running for a state senate seat and looked at her website. Once I read it, I knew that I could never have let a person with her divisive and hateful views touch me again. Sadly, she won, but this is Texas, after all.
2
I guess the bigger question is, or should be, was she a good doctor? If so, why should it matter what her political beliefs are? Did she damage you in some way?
She was a good doctor, but once I saw what her policy positions were on healthcare access for the uninsured, for example, I was aware at how much she was hurting vulnerable populations. I felt that her views were damaging to the society of which I am a part, and she was in a position of power, not just a person with opinions. She is not the only ophthalmologist in Austin, so I switched. I don't know why her competence should be the bigger or the only question. She chose to run for office, so she made her views public knowledge. Once I knew what they were, I could pretend not to know, nor could I comfortably have a professional relationship with her. I choose to support those who share my desire for a more compassionate society, science-based environmental policies, separation of church and state, women's reproductive rights, among many other positions. This woman shared none of those, so the bigger question to me is, why should the fact that she was a good doctor be the only consideration in whether I continued to see her, when I had the option not to?
I do not share my political leanings nor do any of my doctors. We know how each other thinks from general interactions and I care not their political leaning - just their medical expertise. And I am perfectly happy with a man or woman. Possibly because I am 71 and over all the fuss-and-fury of earlier years.
4
Very simplistic approach to how someone makes a choice. People make choices based on a large number of prejudices including religion, race, gender, physical appearance, wealth, etc. Before Trump, a Republican was merely a political statement on economics, foreign affairs, etc. Now that being a Republican means you have to support Trump and his disregard for truth or face banishment ala John McCain and Jeff Flake, I have a hard time going to doctor whom I know supports Trumpism Republicans because can I trust the doctor to tell me the truth. Can I trust them to fix a problem that they missed or will they merely invent lies to cover and bury a mistake, honest or not. Mistakes are a common occurrence , but once made need to be fixed by an honest assessment. I need to expect a truthful, candid diagnosis and not one based on what the doctor thinks I want to hear and don't need to be played as Republicans seem to be doing with the environment, health care, poor, etc. to further their political agenda.
2
I never inquire about a doctor's politics. It's none of my business and as long as he follows medical standards it should not affect how he practices. Of course if I was a woman and had a problem pregnancy I'd hesitate to go to a doctor who profits off of performing abortions.
I once sat in my doctor's waiting room and overheard the full office staff of five (receptionists and nurses) having a serious discussion of the sequence of events that will occur at the "end-of-days." That was my last visit to that office. I don't think just being a republican would have the same effect, but I suppose if there was active support for the indefensible policies of the current administration and congress, yeah, that would do it...
1
A really good doctor, who takes his/her Hippocratic seriously, would not let his/her beliefs dictate treatment of patients. As a physician myself, I would like to think the majority of doctors have the moral compass to be able to do this.
However, the reality is that doctors are human, and flawed like everyone else. I am sure that we allow our biases to weasel themselves into our treatment of patients.
Let me provide one example of this: I treat many kids with serious neurological impairments. In the last few months, I've written innumerable letters for them, requested by their families' lawyers, detailing how much medical harm may come to those patient if their parents were deported. These are good families, hard working and caring parents, and good citizens, so I feel it is my moral duty to help keep them here in the US. Some of my colleagues have been rolling their eyes, delaying said requests for letters, and basically shrugging off the potential for deportation. And yes, I happen to know that these colleagues are Republicans.
So as a physician, I would say, yes, it does matter what your doctor believes in, though it shouldn't.
4
I have lost respect for doctors in general. They allow themselves to be run by the DEA and do a lot of harm to many of their patients. Too many people with horrific pain are being cut off of the pain meds they need because the DEA says so. They are also cutting people off of the anti-anxiety medications they need because the DEA says so. They should band together and inform the DEA that they have taken a vow of "do no harm" and they intend to stick to it. My other problem with today's doctors is that too many of them barely look at their patients. They spend all their time typing on their laptops. Between the DEA and the insurance companies too many doctors have lost their capability to meet their patients' needs. I'm not saying that many of them aren't good doctors in other ways, but they need to look around for their backbones.
1
Do you know what happens when MDs cross the DEA? they go to jail! Yes, this is the same DEA, you the people have made happen. and yes, I do believe the DEA does a decent job.
I would not go to a doctor who made their political views apparent during doctor/patient interactions. It is unprofessional to discuss politics or religion in this context.
5
Doctors, like teachers and caregivers, have high responsibility in highly influential careers. And being human, they have inherent biases. If we, as clients and patients, exert our biases over them, by selecting for political preferences, we are no better. If we want others to treat us impartially, we must set an example. It is in our power; so let's do it.
I don't think the blap experiment can be exported to the article's headline question about doctors. Being a doctor is not only about medical skill. It requires some degree of empathy to be a really great doctor, a doctor I would choose, and I do not believe Republicans possess that attribute to any great extent. How else could they be so callous about immigrants, women, children, minorities, and the poor? No Republican doctors for me.
3
Have to respond to this. My neighbor is a Fox News junkie and obviously a die hard Republican. He is not religious. However, I have seen him go well out of his way to help people. So being politically obtuse (my opinion of anyone who watches Fox News) or Republican does not preclude you from helping others. I can cite other examples of this. I think the problem with Many Republicans is that they automatically choose their tribe right or wrong and think that is patriotism. Dems choose their tribe also, but I think they are quicker to self-criticism. To Dems the ends don't justify the means. To Republicans, the ends do justify the means.
Yes, we distrust Republicans . . . what else is new?
3
Only a couple of rich white people like Sharot and Sunstein would think that doctors' politics don't influence the care they provide.
1
Reading the comments, it's rather clear that America has serious issues. Some people here in Germany liked Trump too, but now they changed their mind (mostly). But that doesn't mean they are or were idiots on other matters.
So yes, America has problems. And that is with both voting blocks. Just because someone is in your party doesn't imply you support them. Likewise in reverse. People in other party are not idiots.
Wake up to reality before it's really too late.
1
The issue has grown beyond supporting or patronizing people who have different beliefs than I do. The question now is: is this person an enemy of our country? Is he the modern equivalent of the Germans who were enthusiastic about Hitler in the 1930s? Those people needed to be slapped awake before we reach 1945.
3
Here in Nebraska you have to look really hard to find a doctor who isn't republican.
1
Despite how accessible information has become, we have become more stupid. Or maybe the amount of information available is paralyzing so we just follow whoever we trust, respect, etc. Critical thinking is disappearing fast because our attention span has been shrinking. This is the Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram age for news. This is the Tinder age for dating. No wonder newspapers struggle. No wonder young people are more lonely than ever before.
I don't look at doc's political views, but rather on feedbacks, knowledge, and reputation.
However, in general - any leftist is very suspicious for me.
I'm from a former socialist country - believe me - it's much worth than you even think!
2
Feedback, knowledge, reputation? Where do you find this data on their costs and performance?
This is a joke, correct? Do we really want to now politicize doctor choices? Ideally we pick doctors who have great credentials, no medical board complaints, the best reputation, and ones who others recommend. Adding politics to the choice does more to further alienate. Don't we have enough of that? Do we really have to fan partisanship even more? A person's party had nothing to do with the quality of medicine.
4
Whenever possible, I avoid going to Republican doctors, lawyers, mechanics, etc., for the simple reason that I don't want to take the chance that my money ends up in the coffers of the NRA or other organizations that I believe to be destructive to our society.
5
This all well and good because you can choose to leave of keep your doctor. But can I do about my in-laws who enthusiastically voted for Trump?
4
At least they aren't your parents. It's unbelievably painful, and I think they believe that I was switched at birth.
1
Does the Republican Doctor believe in science? Any science?
5
That's beyond a dumb question to ask. It takes a science major to graduate from undergrad and to get into med school.
Never--if doctor/dentist doesn't grasp the evils of racism, jingoism, theism, capitalism, science-denial, hegemonism, Ms. Ajani & Ayn-Rand supply-side, what else doesn't he/she know?
2
I go to Republican doctors all the time, here in the Deep South it's just about your only choice, since apparently most doctors are just another kind of small entrepreneur. But I think it is completely reasonable to conclude that a doctor who constantly brings up politics (or religion, for that matter) with his patients, assuming that all reasonable people must share his view, is either incredibly naive, not particularly smart, or just extremely self-absorbed. None of these qualities are desirable in a physician.
1
All of my doctors (5) are Jewish, pro Israel, and were therefore pro Trump. They were very clear about this at the office. I’m not giving up good doctors no matter what their political leanings may be. So be it.
4
I am shocked. You guys are projecting how narrow minded you are, and your lack of critical thinking skills displayed by condescending remarks about half of your American brothers & sisters. Trump is far from perfect, and had Hillary won and the title of ths article read "would you go to a democratic doctor?" what would you respond? Would you have preferred the leader of the free world to be a president who misled our people with her email scandal? selling our uranium? pressuring folks to contribute to her foundation? distorting reality? who felt entitled to be president? what did she accomplish as Secretary of State? Had she not married Bill no one would have ever heard of her. She keeps falling wherever she goes, how would she ever manage walking up and down the stairs of Air Force One?
4
If I knew he/she were a Republican, I would not patronize their practice, or any business, where they carry such despicable beliefs, and support such disgusting activities. IMO, Republicans are not people I want in my life, at any level.
4
My now retired doctor once mentioned that this is a Christian nation after we saw each other in church. I politely disagreed and said we would never be speaking of non-medical things. That worked for 30 years and he had my only requirement: he communicated with this old RN as a partner in my care.
He was otherwise a bit of a jerk.
2
I am shocked. You guys are projecting how narrow minded
you are, and your lack of critical thinking skills displayed by
condescending remarks about half of your American brothers
& sisters. Trump is far from perfect, and had Hillary won and
the title of ths article read "would you go to a democratic
doctor?" what would you respond? Would you have preferred
the leader of the free world to be a president who misled our
people with her email scandal? selling our uranium? pressuring folks to contribute to her foundation? distorting reality? who felt entitled to be president? what did she accomplish as Secretary of State? Had she not married
Bill no one would have ever heard of her. She keeps falling
wherever she goes, how would she ever manage walking
up and down the stairs of Air Force One?
Anyone else notice that all of these comments implicitly/explicitly pertain to deciding whether or not to seek care from a Republican/conservative physician?
What about a pro-life Democrat cardiologist ? Or a Republican rheumatologist who voted for Hillary?
Oh dear! Too complex for me to handle. I didn’t think so many of my fellow ny times readers were so simple-minded.
3
When I read through the comments I can't help but conclude that more people responded to the headline than the article.
The researchers could have skipped the whole hassle of inventing "blaps" and designing the experiment and just based their conclusions on the comments...
When I was a young, newly married and, at the time, a Baptist minister, a realtor we worked with demonstrated repeatedly that she thought she could be late or professionally sloppy because, of course, we both "loved the Lord."
I would never EVER go to a Republican doctor. There’s something not right in their hearts. They are not natural healers.
1
Not in a million years.
1
I would not choose to see any MD who spends time focusing on politics instead of me. The one time I remember that happening was at an urgent care center and that MD went out of his way to let me know how progressive he was. His assessment and treatment were substandard but at least I got the antibiotic I knew I needed.
After reading these comments I realize I should definitely try to determine if a doctor is a progressive democrat. I wouldn't feel safe with such a provider if he/she learned that I hold many conservstive views.
If my doctor believed in ghosts (not very likely), I'd look for anther doctor. Why should I behave differently if my doctor believes Donald Trump?
3
It would not be irrational to question the capabilities of a Republican doctor. Republicans don't believe in the science of climate change and question science in general as a matter of dogma. Republicans do not support health care for the general population and believe that those without means are undeserving of care, as a matter of policy. These views run contrary to the characteristics of a good doctor.
Not all Republicans share these beliefs, and even among those that do, many would still function as decent doctors. But short of better information, it is reasonable to choose the Democrat when two otherwise equal doctor candidates of opposite parties are presented as options.
The same pattern exists elsewhere. Republicanism, and especially Trumpism, is correlated strongly with poor judgement and character. It is reasonable to consider these beliefs as prejudicial or even disqualifying when considering candidates for all sorts of positions.
5
I'm a lesbian. I doubt that a Republican doctor would treat me with the same respect that person would treat a man or a heterosexual. And any business person who votes Republican in order to get a tax break (while ignoring that party's willingness to do active harm to women, gays, ethnic minorities, and to trash the planet for short-term profit) is not someone I would trust to do a good job. I'd suspect s/he'd try to do the minimum work for the maximum $$$. Wouldn't hire 'em to change the cat litter.
386
" I'd suspect s/he'd try to do the minimum work for the maximum $$$."
Exactly the article's point. The key word here is "suspect." Without any evidence.
You also imply that a dem doc is less likely to do the same, again without any evidence.
Pelosy is probably the richest senator, and she's a dem.
5
Thus proving the results of the study....
12
While your critique of Martha is accurate, I wanted to point out that Pelosi is ranked 15th. It took 3 seconds to research that. Your point would strike home if you took the tiny moment of time needed to back up your argument.
Republicans tend to deny science, or to claim not to, in support of Republican political goals. I have heard, and seen from a few comments, that there are some competent doctors who somehow manage to practice modern medicine while holding mythologically-based views of the world, but when it comes to my own health and mortality I would not knowingly take the risk of going to such a doctor.
2
Sharot and Sunstein's reasoning is suspect:
Should you rely solely on the stats of who got the best scores, and not at all on auxiliary info? They say yes. I say no.
Hearing that one person is an engineer, another a parking lot attendant, gives indirect evidence of cognitive capacity and skill. Why not political leanings too? In order to claim that political leanings should not affect the assessment of who is skilled here requires us to assume such leanings are irrelevant to assessing cognitive capacity. That's quite an assumption. Statistics blinkered scientists, of course, disagree.
Regarding the symmetry: When a person is comfortable thinking in certain ways (e.g., emphasizing group loyalty, honor, traditional roles,...) and when these tendencies explain the appeal of one kind of political ideology over another, those who are similarly oriented will appear to be the smarter - simply because their reasoning will make more sense to the person with similar tendencies. This occurs regardless of orientation.
Note that it also explains how statistics blinkered scientists view the world and what is rational. According to them, people who count beans, and only beans, are more rational than people who rely on other information. And their error-proneness is explained by this version too.
Yet another unnecessary study to prove the obvious: Attitude and perspective has a profound impact upon us and is an essential factor in our response to well being.
2
It helps to bear in mind that the consideration set of respondents was only 156 people. Extrapolate from that what you will. Interesting hypothesis, though. I wonder if religious affiliation, or lack thereof, might be a more focused point of differentiation. Republicans and Democrats both come in many differing stripes these days.
2
Whether I care about my physician’s political leanings extends exactly as far as whether those leanings are likely to affect the my health and the treatment they recommend. I wouldn’t want to see a conservative gynecologist or obstetrician because of the risk of receiving advice on my own health from an explicitly pro-life, anti-contraception perspective. But my first cousin once removed is a fantastic heart surgeon, and a conservative Republican. I agree with him on approximately nothing, but I would go to him if I needed heart surgery, because his politics wouldn’t impact the treatment.
1
Yes, but I am a white male. Only because I am a white male.
2
My doctor is undoubtedly republican. He's easily the best I've had in my lifetime. I think I'll keep him :)
64
This is what any Trump supporter would respond.
9
Never in my long life have I known the political leanings of my doctor or dentist. I choose them on the basis of their reputation for high-quality work.
13
Compared to what? Is the doctor supply in Florida a random sample of American physicians? Maybe Dem doctors shy away from states like Florida that are hostile to public sector services, including public health. Slim pickings, I'd guess, from my experience in South Florida. And, by the way, how did you figure out the doctor's party affiliation?
2
Absolutely incredible - speaking, of course, of your clinical trial results right here/now...
No question whatever about outcome - but you may also want to consider a more canonical coordinate space...
Rather than looking at how the datapoints scatter vs the aggregated litmus tests - look at why the litmus tests divide so bimodally into two groups...
i.e. do some people just dislike some dogma - or dogmatically dislike some dogmatists...
PS
What of the inverse relationship of outrage vs severity for…
> Waterboarding vs drone killing
> Stein’s role vs Trump’s role in tipping things
2
No. I would not knowingly go to a Republican doctor.
Or make a Republican friend or even commingle with Republican family.
Republicans are out of bounds.
3
You live a very constrained life, one subject to pity.
As a gay man, I would not only not want to be seen by a Republican, I won't see a Catholic or Baptist unless I know them personally.
138
"As a gay man...."
Here's an analogy for you, John (even though analogies can only go so far).
"As a White man I would not only not want to be seen by a Black, I won't see a Mexican or Filipino unless I know them personally."
What would you call such sentiment, John the virtuous?
8
So, you always judge people by their political beliefs and are unwilling to look beyond that? Sad, actually, not to mention judgmental.
4
To Tamar , who apparently doesn't understand the loaded situation John might find himself in with persons who could potentially adhere to a set of beliefs that denigrate his person. I write -might - and so his decision to avoid potential conflict is healthy, all things being equal.
To Al, the analogy you offer cannot begin to reflect what John is offering. The snide remark at the end is unnecessary.
And to both Tamar and Al, John would do well never to cross paths with either of you. He strikes me as a person who's probably figured out what's best for his overall health. Maybe even offering his take with the voice of hard-earned experience??
Since we can't know from his brief post, neither can we judge.
Two problems with Republican doctors:
1. They might believe that what they are doing is just business and they should use every opportunity to make as much money as they can. You don't want to be used as an ATM.
2. They might hate Democrats. Really hate. That's scary when you are in a dentist chair.
5
I stopped at the first paragraph. I wouldn't have a Republican friend. j/k Depends on the type of Republican, a David Frum type of Republican for a Devin Nunez type of Republican. Yes to the former, no to the latter.
1
The smartest audio engineer I ever knew fervently believed the earth was created 7000 years ago, that carbon dating was a hoax, along with dinosaurs and other artifacts of a 4 1/2 billion year old earth.
2
Short answer, No. But then, I've never had to go BACK. This Opinion is so fraught with conditions of convenience that it begs credibility. Are there even Parties as we have them in London, or today at Harvard? Is this an example of where the bar is set to have one's opinion vetted by NYT?
It is as if the world is seen truly through elephant-eyes, and aren't the elephants characteristically weak-sighted?
Included in what is left out are so-called "moral values" such as religious beliefs, if any. Race. Are not the base Republican voters white Evangelicals whose judgements are dictated more by compulsory regimentation than by freedom of ideas?
It is quite unfair to the rest of us to be sent to "experts" that we believe will not speak truth to us, although they claim absolute truth for themselves. Are there no other experts with actual moral values? Many, and all we must do is somehow divine and separate the Republicans from all those moral and freedom loving human beings.
2
What would be the reaction if the article was titled "Would you go to a Black/Gay/Evangelical Doctor"? Soon we will need laws baring discrimination based on political affiliation.
When group membership is more important than anything else, we are in great danger. First, everyone outside our own group is demonized. Then "the other" must be marginalized or eliminated. When things go really wrong, there is a Final solution. Exactly how do you think that happened?
6
"Our findings have obvious implications... for social divisions..."
If you only see the world as red and blue, that's what you see. All of these audience, customer, patient segmentations that simplify the world into 2 neat boxes -- Republican and Democrat -- the most simplistic dimension, do exactly what you claim -- create more social division. The very act of only measuring that brings more red and blue polarization to the rest of our lives.
3
“Knowing a person’s political leanings should not affect your assessment of how good a doctor she is...”
The very premise of this article is incorrect. Being a Republican these days reflects strongly on ones values, capacity for empathy and good judgement. These are important qualities for a doctor.
Without any other data to go by, it would be perfectly reasonable to eschew a Republican doctor.
5
On one hand, this speaks to a ridiculous polarization in the land of freedom of thought and of association. (I have seen billboards advertising Christian plumbers, for Pete's sake.)
On the other, though, we have over the decades and centuries chosen doctors and lawyers and good teachers and preferred neighbors, and even wars, for reasons which also spoke of a mindless polarization.
Maybe we are only living through a temporary setback among the stubborn, on a long path leading away from the mindlessness.
1
"Would You Go to a Republican Doctor?" is the title of this essay.
That's the wrong question. I don't care if a doctor is a registered Republican. If he or she voted for Trump, however, I would pause. Doctor-patient relationships are neither casual nor impersonal for the patient. Interactions usually involve some sort of touching. Why compound the discomfort by choosing a doctor with whom I vehemently disagree on separate issues? There are plenty of doctors with equal expertise. You make it sound as if I'd take the advice of my Clinton-voting plumber before a doctor who voted for Trump. That's just silly. It's not that we question their expertise, it's that we'd rather have a different doctor.
And, I know I speak for many Democrats when I say I would have no problem seeing a doctor who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. It's not a 'Republican' thing. It's a 'Trump' thing.
It’s not that I disagree with you, it’s that doctors are a bad example. I understand your ‘blap’ experiment and the results are not all that surprising. I’m an engineer, and it was pounded into me as a teenager that what counts are facts, not opinions. We are warned early not to go with our 'guts.' It's more--'gut feeling, then verify.' I would never see a Trump-voting doctor, but if a Trump voter seemed to have a knack for 'correctly' identifying ‘blaps,’ I’d pay attention. That’s what people who are taught how to think do. Sadly, knowing how to think is a lost art in America.
2
The congress have a few republican doctors that are against the Affordable Care Act. There is another who is the Secretary of Housing. These republicans in government are not nice people. I would not be the patient of a doctor knowing he/she is a right wing republican.
3
Frankly, is there ANYTHING in America now in which decisions and attitudes are formulated without religion or politics involved?
1
These are NY times commenters, unlike most other people who are amenable human beings!
Financially it can make sense for a doctor to be a Republican especially if he/she has no conscience. Or a concierge practice on Park Avenue. Just because you are smart, studied hard and know science, chemistry and physics it doesn't make you a nice person. Voting for Trump, however, and being a Republican are two different things. Country club yes, gun rack truck no. I would be very uncomfortable in the presence of serious medical personnel who thought this man had the characteristics and character to be president. A vote for Trump speaks to a defining lack of character. Bad motivation = bad person. You disliked Hillary--not for good reasons in my opinion--yet you did the right thing in the end. A physician--healer, do no harmer--who buys into DT lacks something (empathy?), like a sauce missing an ingredient. You can love your money, think Obamacare was bad news, but to turn your country over to Trump takes a special kind of person.
3
I work as a doctor at one of the top hospitals in the country. Most of the doctors and scientists are liberal. People mistrust Republicans because the party is radical and mostly based on racism and delusional thinking, and/or selfish greed. These things don't mesh well with the qualities need for a great doctor. It's not irrational to use one aspect of a person's character to infer other things about them. If you believe in "supply side" tax cuts despite no evidence that this has ever worked, why would I trust your judgement about clinical trials or health management? (both of which should be evidence-based) If I'm a black patient, should I trust a Republican doctor knowing the flagrant racism in the party? No, that would be irrational.
Republicans are pariahs in many academics fields because of their delusional thinking and aversion to objective reasoning, and/or prejudices. Not because other people are biased or irrational.
15
I used to think it did not matter until it happened to me. I was seeing a therapist last year and somewhere in between our conversations he would make make comments like "Look at Harvey Weinstein and how his liberal friends tried to cover up for him." I was not bothered about his comment about Weinstein. I agree he is a pig but i was clearly disturbed by the emphasis on the "liberal" friends. Clearly my therapist is conservative and I could care less what he believed at home but it troubled me he imposed his way of thinking in my therapy. My space. The space I am to receive an objective guidance. This troubled me and I stopped seeing him altogether.
5
Someone's political orientation speaks volumes about the content of their character. I want to know the political orientation of every vendor I deal with and everyone who is a potential friend. Republicans and other right-wingers have no sense of social justice and value greed above all. I do not want such toxic people in my life. My goal is to expunge my life of toxins.
6
I'd point out that apparently even Ben Carson appears to have kept his political opinions to himself when he was at Johns Hopkins. I can't believe that if he made any of the statement he has made about gays and minorities since he left there and entered politics, he wouldn't have been booted off the staff as I doubt many other doctors and nurses would have wanted to work with him.
So either he kept quiet or he doesn't believe what he said and has just done so to get attention (if he had been an African-American doctor who was a liberal Democrat, it's doubtful anyone would have paid attention to him. As a Trumpian Republican, he rose to fame and fortune)
As a woman, I would never feel comfortable going to a Republican doctor. The Republican party actively campaigns on an anti-science, anti-women platform.
What if I needed a treatment that would put a potential fetus at risk? I couldn't trust that doctor to make recommendations with my best interests in mind. For an example, look at what happened to Savita Halappanavar-- she was miscarrying and died because the doctors weren't allowed to perform an abortion on her already dying fetus.
6
If the republican doctor was an anti-vaxxer, a racist, or a believer that immigrants are bad for the country, or only accepted private medical insurance, then no, no, no. These views would call into question any record or skills the doctor had. I suggest that this is a rational choice.
Thank you.
103
The vast majority of anti-vaxxers are liberal progressives.
8
Like President Trump? Who publicly stated "vaccines are very very dangerous" or didn't know the difference between HIV and HVP. Unless you respect and support science you shouldn't be practicing medicine or leadership.
Wrong wrong wrong, the demographics of anti-vaxxers are distributed evenly across the political spectrum. There are numerous articles on this, including data in the article itself, that back up my assertion.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/01/26/the...
https://theconversation.com/anti-vaccination-beliefs-dont-follow-the-usu...
1
I am confused about a claim of this article: "Recently we conducted an experiment to answer that question. Our study, done with the researchers Joseph Marks, Eloise Copland and Eleanor Loh for the journal Cognition,"
I do not think this article has gone through peer review yet-- it is not listed as an accepted article in press at the Elsevier web site for the journal Cognition. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/cognition
The link in the article takes the reader to an open access site where it says the paper was written April 11, 2018. It can be downloaded and read but there is no indication that Cognition has accepted it, at least none that I can see.
Additionally- researchers do not "do a study" for a scholarly journal. They submit a paper to a journal for its review and possible acceptance. But a journal does not request a study.
Is this a stylistic error, or claiming a little too much, or a little too fast?
Finally -- the study would be stronger if it was replicated with a different distinction-- some other emotionally-charged allegiance/loyalty, some other distinction that has no real important allegiance, or keep the political distinctions during the experiment-- but make them locally based-- as in filling the potholes, improving schools, public transportation. This experiment is looking for like-mindedness but because national political parties have so strongly demonized the other, I think this experiment confounds fear with likemindedness.
2
I think a much better question is: why do we allow people whose very existence is a violation of the hippocratic oath to become doctors?
5
No, I will not go to a Republican doctor. I associate Republicans with lack of empathy and for very good reason.
6
As a lesbian, I would absolutely NOT go to a doctor I knew was Republican. That doctor's conscious or unconscious anti-gay bias may negatively affect me in life or death circumstances.
146
Kay,
"That doctor's conscious or unconscious anti-gay bias may negatively affect me in life or death circumstances."
An epitome of bigotry.
You have not a shred of evidence about "that doctor's" consciousness or unconscious.
Israeli docs routinely provide world-class med care to their enemies and make it a matter of professional honor to excel in their job in spite of their beliefs or ideology.
The level of close-mindedness in this comment section has even me surprised. Liberal mind is imploding.
5
What if the democrat's conscious or unconscious anti-White bias negatively affected you?
Because that makes just about as much sense.
5
In your view, Kay, should doctors be able to see only those patients who pass a political litmus test? And, should doctors be required to publicly state their political opinions on immigration, tax policy, education reform, energy policy, etc, so patients can determine if those views make them a good doctor?
Bad enough Democrats have pushed politics into sports and entertainment, now we have to push politics into health care also? Is there nothing that we can have free of the crusades of social justice warriors?
4
During the Clinton administration, I went to see a dermatologist in Denver. She diagnosed me with rosacea. I had just read an article that said Bill Clinton also had this skin condition, and I mentioned it to the doctor. She proceeded to make a series of hateful, untrue statements about Clinton that made it clear she was an avid consumer of right-wing media. She was an ill-informed, nasty ignoramus, which is not what I want in a doctor. She immediately lost me as a customer. I have no apologies or regrets.
9
Very good academic research, it turns out, shows that calling oneself a “conservative“ distinctly defines not merely one’s general way of living but also one’s psyche, with significant-consequences. Neurological research verifies what social scientists find. Anybody essentially optimistic and unafraid of life who chooses a “conservative“ lawyer or doctor is probably asking for trouble.
I might mention that the social science research in the first paper below was viciously attacked by Republicans when it was published, hewing to their not unexpected contempt for science. The neurological research below is especially disturbing in the current environment.
See:
http://faculty.virginia.edu/haidtlab/jost.glaser.political-conservatism-...
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservat...
http://thescienceexplorer.com/humanity/neuroscience-reveals-differences-...
82
"Anybody essentially optimistic and unafraid of life who chooses a “conservative“ lawyer or doctor is probably asking for trouble."
Sloppy thinking, ADN.
Nothing you've cited offers a proof for your assertion.
4
it didnt show any research. gave no statistics. no guidelines. whatever it is you saw, it wasnt there.
1
At a 2012 Republican Party presidential debate, the audience chanted "let him die" in response to a question about a patient who didn't have enough money to satisfy a hospital's billing department. Since that time, Republican politicians have consistently acted in accordance with that attitude. Republican politicians have consistently acted to obstruct access to contraceptives, abortion, breast cancer screening, and other matters particularly relevant to women's health. And the Republican party insists on ignoring and denigrating objective science itself, the fundamental basis of effective modern medicine.
Whether or not a physician holds these beliefs is certainly a valid consideration in choosing a physician that will act in my and my family's best interests.
10
The experiment and the results from it are interesting but the set-up in the column, as expressed by, "Knowing a person’s political leanings should not affect your assessment of how good a doctor she is ..." is misleading and does not capture what the experiment is about. What do Sharot and Sunstein mean by "should not" in the phrase I quoted? For "should not" to make sense it would reflect the belief that judgments about political matters are independent of other judgments that require intelligence, and skills such as the ability and/or willingness to reach conclusions in an intellectually honest way. That assumption is not justified.
If you learn that the dermatologist you are considering continues to believe that Trump is not a racist or is a great negotiator despite the evidence, it says something about how she processes information. Why wouldn't it make sense to wonder whether new evidence, even overwhelming evidence, about how to treat a dermatological problem would influence her to overcome previous beliefs or biases?
In addition, many medical decisions are not simply science based; they may also reflect values. Why shouldn't patients want their doctors to have allied values? Does it make sense for a woman whose pregnancy is problematic to seek advice from a doctor who is unalterable opposed to abortion in all circumstances?
Some non-political judgments are certainly independent of political beliefs. Others are not.
7
My husband's former internist is an excellent doctor and always provided him with fine and competent care. However, they both made the mistake of starting an e-mail correspondence, and the internist revealed himself as a consumer of right-wing "alternate" media and believing what it purports.
The internist's colleagues in his group practice view him as a crank. My husband finally changed physicians, as there was a nearer practice that's more convenient to our location.
2
Before November 2016 I would have said yes, I can go to a Republican doctor. However, that it not true today. I live in a town that is probably 50 percent Republican and frankly, the Republicans have become much more vocal about their insanity in the last two years.
5
Well that proves... nothing. Laboratory experiments like this are really rather useless and irrelevant and used, most often, to prove a preferred hypothesis in a petri dish of unrealistic conditions, or to prove something we all already knew through simple common sense. The result is stuff like "unconscious bias", a redundant term. And this.
2
I have had two experiences that inform my inclination to select doctors with progressive political leanings. One was with an anesthesiologist who asked me in an initially friendly way what I did for a living (political consultant) and which party's candidates I supported (Democrat). Then he began a loud, angry tirade about President Obama, which continued until I went under - and I was terrified.
In a similar experience, a dentist not only treated me to a nasty dose of his conservative Republican beliefs while I was a captive audience, but positioned an obviously ill-fitting "cap" on my front tooth - which I had to have redone the following day by another dentist.
So, while it may seem irrational, I agree with those who say they would not choose medical care from anyone with political beliefs antithetical to their own.
4
Interesting experiment, scientific even. Some of the comments seem to confirm the experiment. The experiment is interesting but begs the question, how do you get beliefs and how do you get beliefs that are so strong that you suspend good judgement? My own theory is that the people who brought you this experiment have been working with the advertising and ad media for decades and have fine tuned messages to make us want and buy stuff. The movement of this science to politics started some time later. If you doubt my theory, then just ponder, why do we call it the Democratic or Republican "brand". So we are all conditioned to believe what we see on TV or Radio or Social Media. Newspapers used to be the place people got information that was at least edited by a responsible set of journalistic rules, and the news on the front page had no ads. Now? bring on the ads and keep those Republican surgeon away from me, I'd rather die!
1
I had an appointment to meet with the surgeon who would be performing my two knee replacements. Right away I noticed a tiny elephant on his American flag pin. When I asked if that meant he was a Republican, his reply was yes, was that going to be a problem. Very honestly I answered that it might be. Instead of discussing the knee procedures, we spent the whole appointment discussing politics. I was appalled at the things he believed and accepted about Donald Trump. For weeks before my surgery I lay awake at night agonizing over whether I trusted this man to replace my knees. I asked many friends what they thought. Ultimately, he performed my two very successful total knee replacements, rationally based on the stellar quality of his reputation and emotionally based on our shared religion. Knowing he belonged to the opposite political party, especially with a president as unhinged from reality as Trump, greatly added to the already high stress of the situation.
7
Such is the polarization in our rural area of California, I have always assumed my health-care professionals would lean to the liberal/progressive s side. After all, these are among the most highly educated members of the community.
And I say this as an ex-Republican.
3
A dermatologist? Sure. A gynecologist? I might want to give that a bit more thought.
6
A GOP doctor, probably scams the federal government on medicare, cheats on taxes, prescribes un necessary procedures and generally a mean spirited , low person.
10
I can imagine way more boring tasks than this. Fortunately, I get paid for doing them.
American Republicanism is the philosophy of a stomach. The party line requires denial, or the downplaying of evolution as a "theory," comparable to the flogiston theory of fire. Since the flu virus EVOLVES every few years or so, I would be pretty stupid to go to a Republican doctor for an attack of the flu, or for vaccination, since evolution isn't proven.
5
How about finding a doctor who has the time to pay attention and share in decision making? Sold. Nonsense title.
5
Ms. Sharot and Ms. Sunstein,
Your morally charged study relies on so many assumptions that it’s basically worthless. Political identities convey particular values, and Republicans have fought hard to give professionals the “right” to alter their services based on religious convictions.
When I was 19 and finally started dating, I scheduled an appointment with a resident from my doctor’s practice in order to get tested for the first time—like sexually active gay men are taught. Turned out he was an immigrant from a socially conservative country. I sheepishly, awkwardly admitted why I was there. He had no idea what to say, eventually cautioning me against a “sexually reckless lifestyle” (homophobic dog whistle) before writing an order for labwork. I was mortified.
Had I know about his background—or, alternatively, had I learned he were an American-born Republican—I would have 100% sought a different doctor. I defy you to tell me why that’s wrong.
10
Family doc here, 28 years in the game.
I've never met a Democratic orthopedic surgeon, even when I trained in Los Angeles. Maybe they exist in New York or somewhere, but if you're in the heartland and break a hip and don't like Republicans, you might need to be airlifted out. Same thing when that stone in your ureter gets stuck and won't come out and you need a urologist.
Now with psychiatry you'd have lots of docs to choose from if there weren't such a shortage....
4
A liberal, progressive, Rockefeller-type Republican? Sure. However there are no such any more. Today anyone still calling themselves a "Republican" has accepted the whole stinking package of anti-enlightenment oppression and irrationality. I will not support them with my business.
12
You include one sample political question —whether building a wall would reduce the number of illegal immigrants. I have a six foot wall in my backyard and not even my high jumping dog can get over it. I think the answer to your question is yes whatever your political leanings may be.
3
It is true that someone can be seriously delusional in one or two area and entirely clear-headed in others; most of us can probably think of many examples. But if you already know that someone is willfully and utterly delusional and/or frighteningly ignorant and/or downright malevolent in one major area, that should give you pause in assuming they are exquisitely insightful in an area critical to you and that you can trust them. Then again, you might be eschewing someone who could help in that critical area -- only the prior probability of that is not good.
105
I had a very good friend who was a Republican banker. We were great, natural friends and had years of going to sporting events, smoking cigars (a long time ago) and having some beer. We got together often for dinner and social events. Our families were good friends. He refused to discuss politics. I sometimes crossed over that line and he wouldn't discuss it. It bugged me until Trump came around. It turns out that the old adage, "never talk with your friends about politics or religion" may be the new golden rule. Fox and extreme right wing groups have weaponized conversation to the point we don't like people that disagree with us. This is a shame, it's degrading our humanity. I get "blapped" because I do judge people's abilities by their politics, I've been a victim of the destruction of civility and I will find a way out of it. I have doctors that are rabidly Republican. I choose to handle it like my late friend. I stay focused on the reason I'm seeking professional medical help and don't discuss politics.
2
Donald Trump has validated what I suspected about Republicans since Bush II, the Republican brain compartmentalizes everything and is incapable of proper reasoning. The Republican brain starts with the desired end result and works backward, rejecting anything that doesn't fit the ideology. Evidence to the contrary be damned! For example, how blinded by ideology does one have to be to still believe Supply Side (Trickle Down) economics works after 40 years of proof otherwise!
You need a brain capable of logic in order to properly diagnose disease. Therefore, no way would I ever go to a Republican doctor.
As far as other professions go, since Trump is a grifter who cons people out of money, doesn't pay contractors, pathological liar, etc. If any business supports Trump, I won't do business with them either because I don't trust their own moral compass and business ethics.
9
As a physician, I think that there is serious divergence between the example you employ, and the inferences you draw from the experiment. For technical expertise in medicine (surgery, other invasive procedures, and diagnosis of serious disease), I think personality and political opinion is a distant issue. However, for long-term relationships in medicine (primary care, oncology, psychiatry, etc..), mutual respect, trust, commitment, and values are essential, and I think more important than technical ability.
Thus, your analysis is applicable to procedural skill in medicine, but not to long-term therapeutic relationships.
5
What about how a political view might impact trust between to parties that goes beyond mere policy difference?
If two people simply have differing political opinions on, say, the capital gains tax, that’s one thing. But there’s more to people than pure policy.
Would I hire a Republican doctor? I don’t ask for my physicians’ political affiliations, but hypothetically... that depends. Is the doctor treating me or my hypothetical daughter? Maybe she’s at an impressionable age. Does Dr. Republican feel so strongly about abortion or contraception that they might downplay/disparage the full scope of my daughter’s reproductive choices? If so, the value of their technical proficiency is degraded in my eyes because I cannot trust them to place my daughter’s rights above their political views. I have no doubt a Republican could easily flip the scenario in some context, but the idea is the same.
Then there’s the message of voluntary affiliation. Imagine the best mechanic on the planet also espouses a political ideology of white supremacy. Do I (black) ignore this and let him take a look at my brakes? Ask someone who’s survived a Soviet gulag if their doctor’s politics matter. Or take it to the other side of the spectrum and combine medical skills with far-right nationalist xenophobia (see Dr. Mengele). People exist as a whole, not in discrete pieces with which we can choose to engage as needed.
3
In answer to your masthead: Not if she/he voted for Trump, and continues to support him!
3
I will not go to a doctor I know is a Republican. Further, I will not hire anyone whose politics, religious beliefs, prejudices or philosophy don't meet with my approval .
This is because I'd much prefer to give my money to someone I like better.
138
I would have written exactly this. I would not knowingly support someone who would use the money I spent with them to help elect a government with which I strongly disagree any more than I would shop at Hobby Lobby or any other such business.
30
But what if, by consensus among other medical professionals, the Republican was the best doctor in town, at the particular specialty you required? I personally would go with the most competent doctor, period. For the same reason I watch movies, admire paintings, and read poems by people with enormous talent, even if their political views are repugnant or their personal lives ... imperfect. Picasso. Woody Allen. Wagner. Wallace. But I'll bet even most hard-core Republicans would choose a doctor that believed in science.
3
So you're saying that if you had a life threatening disease and the physician most qualified to care for was a Republican, you would go to a less qualified doc just for political reasons?
And when you shop in stores, do you check out the political leanings of the owners before shopping in them which it would seem you would have to do to stay true to your beliefs.
8
We have become a polarized nation. I am worried
that if I go to a Democrat leaning doctor he will not
give me the care I need. We don't trust you.
3
How is you question different than, say, ‘would you see a Muslims doctor or a black doctor’? I suppose we all have preferences on the people we feel comfortable with, but your question nearly justifies all other questions of discrimination. Too bad for this country.
6
So here is the other question. If you were Muslim or Hispanic would you see a Republican doctor? If you did would you believe you were getting their best care?
What would this article look like if the headline were changed slightly? Would You Go to a Fascist Doctor? Would You Go to a Slave Owning Doctor? Would You Go to a Mafia Doctor? Would You Go to a Communist Doctor? I know I'd hesitate to go to some of these doctors, but with others I'd have no problem. In fact I do go to one doctor who has told me he supports the Republican Party, although he told me that before the era of Mr. Trump. I don't know what he would say now, and I don't know how I'd respond to it. I'm not sure that I'd want to go to a doctor who was enthusiastic about Ms. Clinton, either. I do know I wouldn't go to a slave owning doctor, although I'd have no problem going to one who treated the godfather of one of the five mafia families. Surely we do think that political attitudes reflect something about one's overall social sensibilities.
44
I think I would be a bit suspicious of any physician (or CPA or engineer) who thought it was relevant and appropriate to offer political views (unless asked--also inappropriate) in the course of a professional consultation.
4
The headline should be: Would you go to a Trump supporting doctor? Being a republican is very different than supporting Trump.
If a doctor voted for Trump, their judgment and intelligence is in question.
5
I went to a Republican evangelical Christian doctor for years. Early on we silently agreed never to discuss politics or religion and we got on just fine. I was his patient for almost 25 years until he retired from private practice to go into full time missionary work....and I congratulated him on his committment.
60
Peter, you are to be complimented for your world view. would that everyone could deal in such a manner with those with whom they disagree.
6
Good on him. And better that his specialty was clearly not obstetrics and gynecology.
6
I'm guessing that Peter, based on the gender associated with his name, wouldn't need to worry about discussing needing and abortion or contraception with his doctor.
Here's a parallel: in 1969 when I was pregnant and looking for a gynecologist/obstetrician, I absolutely avoided doctors with Irish or Italian names - because they would be Catholic, and privilege the life of the unborn baby over that of the mother. Which, especially in those days when you couldn't easily find a woman doctor, made obvious sense.
5
This actually happened to me. I was going to a foot doctor in Manhattan. He was Jewish and lived and practiced in Manhattan, so I just casually assumed he was a Democrat. Wrong! After the first debate between Clinton and Trump, I came to my appointment and said, "I thought Hillary did very well last night, didn't you?" He then informed me that he was a Trump supporter and thought Trump was going to save our country. He said this in front of his two Hispanic assistants. I stayed through my appointment and never returned. My abhorrence "trumped" my plantar fasciitis.
5
Why would anyone trust their health to a person who aligns themselves against science and truth?
6
This is NUTS! Although I’m liberal, I certainly WOULD trust a Republican doctor or architect...Traditionally, successful accomplished Americans were presumed Republicans...Heck, I used to assume church-going Christians were excellent folks who were more responsible than personalities I preferred to befriend...
Disciplined students who grow into successful professionals are rarely nonconformist change agents...
6
The real question is, would a republican doctor treat me?
I’m a woman. What if I wanted an abortion, or even birth control?
What if I was gay?
What if I was Latina, or black?
What if I spoke only halting English?
What if I was a single mother?
What if I was poor?
What if I was on Medicare or Medicaid? Or my children were covered by CHIP?
Or, god help me, any combination of the above?
4
Last summer I needed a podiatrist and the one my GP referred me to in Manhattan couldn't see me for weeks. I found one a few blocks from my home in Jackson Heights, Queens. He was fine. What really got to me wasn't just his badly photocopied picture (posted next to his Latina receptionist, poor woman) of him with Donald Trump, obvioiusly taken a few years ago in black tie (okay, Queens for Queens), but the proud picture of him with Sarah Palin. Yikes. For my follow-up a couple weeks later, I went back to the Manhattan doc. The Hatian immigrant nurse there chuckled at my story as to why I was there.
5
If I know a doctor's political affiliation is Republican I won't see them. In addition, I won't see any doctor whose waiting room TV is tuned to FOX news. Why would a woman ever want to see a Republican GYN? That seems counter productive to her well being. It's like reporting to a cop that voted for Trump that you've been sexually assaulted.
4
For a really interesting experiment, in a week or three, y'all should publish a column written nearly exactly the same, but titled "Would you go to a doctor who's a Democrat?". Most comments here would be "sure, why not" instead, with the staunch few who would sarcastically attack the mere idea. Would be a funny comparison.
5
The only doctors I avoid are newer ones with huge student loans, especially dentists.
3
How does that work? When you schedule an appointment with a new doctor, do you ask the receptionist about her or his political affiliation?
3
Don’t think I’d go to an extremely conservative gynecologist .... I would never be sure if such a doctor would consider me capable of making my own reproductive decisions.
6
I don't think we needed a study of this nature to conclude the nation is divided or the current Republican Party and Trump supporters ignore facts and reality.
The time and money would have been better spent on registering people to vote and having the extremists in control removed from office in November. Everyone posting here will probably vote, but the messaging in exposing the insanity is coming up short.
I fear November will not be what we all hope and the madness will be continued.
We're on the threshold of tyranny as a result of a cult like minority of under informed voters. These people are not just doctors. They're everywhere and in every profession. The entire matter should be alarming to even these people, but it's not. The only defense is the voting booth.
Best of luck to all.
3
My new doctor responded to a comment I made by suggesting he thinks Trump and crew are harming the United States and the world. If he thought otherwise, I would assume he was an ignoramous, or lived a very isolated life.
3
Whether it’s politics, race, whatever - at our base level we crave group identity and dislike the “other”. It’s really difficult to socialize this away.
1
I would patronize no one who wasn't smart enough to see a Trump as a dangerous con man. Not for medical care or groceries or art.
5
Whether a shape was a blap was random, and the co-players were algorithms. You were messing with your test subjects.
Maybe they were smarter than you thought, and they figured out what the test was really about, and they gamed the experiment just to get back at you for treating them like lab rats.
1
I have left a dentist who was skeptical about climate change because I expect a doctor to believe in science. I left a dermatologist who ranted irrationally about Hillary Clinton because I couldn’t trust his judgement. And I probably will find s different primary care doctor who doesn’t tell me medicine is the only field where someone is told what they can charge / performs an incompetent breast exam on me and refers me to the radiation lane where he has just gone in on... oh and there was the breast cancer doctor who didn’t accept Medicare. What happened when her patients turned 65? Don’t tell me these weren’t Republicans.
2
To the extent that my patronage supported the livelihood of the physician, I would not go to a Trump supporter.
3
I'm enjoying reading the comments that strongly tilt toward dissing the Republican expert - although they seem a bit over the top, it is the times that make them so. I told my sister yesterday that I will work very hard to see all Republicans out of office no matter how "moderate" they are, because if they are Republican, then they are the problem that allowed and allows the current resident of the WH.
3
Yes because I’d trust them to honor their oath.
2
short answer: no. someone whose party defines itself by a hostile disregard of anyone not white, male, christian, straight, and wealthy is unfit to care for others.
4
In today's world being a Republican often seems to be shorthand for denying science and at times even reality. Is that the type of person I want as my physician? Clearly the answer is no.
3
A dermatologist I went to had the Book of Mormon out and a book on the Constitution on a table in the exam room. I felt uncomfortable and a little mad at the same time.
I never went again.
4
The political perspective of your doctor probably doesn’t matter most of the time, but certainly does make a difference some of the time. As a pediatrician, there are definitely situations where politics come up. For example, is a teenaged girl who is found to be pregnant at a visit with her pediatrician going to be given information about all of her options, including abortion? What about discussing guns in the home? Or recommending the vaccine against HPV, the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, which is sexually transmitted? Or treating depression in a teenager struggling with his or her sexual identity? Your dermatologist’s or orthopedist’s or radiologist’s politics probably won’t make much of a difference, but your primary care provider’s, psychiatrist’s or gynecologist’s politics might. Having said all this, I personally don’t know my doctors’ politics, and I have only ever discussed politics with one family directly in my 10 years of practice, on Election Day 2016 when one of my little patients came in for a check up wearing an “I’m with her” t-shirt, and I shared that I was wearing my best approximation of a pantsuit.
199
Any doctor that withholds all available information from the patient is guilty of malpractice and should be charged accordingly.
19
In 1980 as a teenager I brought a barely pregnant friend to a conservative doctor who kept having her come in for ultrasounds to show her her “baby’s” heartbeat and to have the nurses gush over her becoming a mother again at age 17. She kept telling them she wanted to terminate and it wasn’t until we got an adult involved that the friend discovered this was a common tactic by conservative doctors. The doctor was trying to run out the clock to satisfy his beliefs.
22
Catholic hospitals may force them to.
Dunno, but i'd trust Ben Carson to separate my cojoined twins, even if i wouldn't vote for him if he was the only candidate on the ballot. I'd trust Rand Paul with my eye surgery. He might be a free market Republican who wants to gut Obamacare, but he does eye surgeries for free in poor countries and charity eye care here for uninsured patients. Does your Democratic ophthamologist?
7
“Building a wall along the southern border would decrease illegal immigration- true or false” This is supposed to indicate whether the blap sorter is a Republican or Democrat?? I voted well to the left of Hillary and it seems obvious to me that the factual answer to this question is a simple yes. The political question would be “Do you think that wall should be built?”
Truly we are living in times when facts matter so little, -belief systems and emotion are so dominant that even the biases of those who designed the experiment elude their own awareness.
And this constant sorting of people into friend and foe brings an ever more conflicted intersectionality. What of Kaitlin Jenner, Republican Trump supporter and trans woman? Is she not a “real” trans person if national LGBTQ organizations object to her politics? There are so many gay Trump supporters, 28% of Latinos, women, etc.
What if what we call politics is no more reality based than what we call religion? What if both friend and foe are imaginary.
3
I live in Appalachia which is a separate country with separate values and separate superstitions and separate economics and separate familial constructs. Addiction. The rest of America, this would be people with actual money, cavalierly dismisses us as a bunch of losers in need of a dentist. I live in a sea of violent racism.
Yet I am an outsider who has lived here for twenty years. I do not know, or care to know, a single person in the community. No one knows I write. No one knows I simply cannot believe such cruel notions such as the one where Obama was from the Congo and had been born an ape. In Appalachia, Trump is a hero and can do no wrong, and if you do not agree with that sickening assessment, you are not an American and someone needs to burn your house down.
I would never go to a Republican physician.
There are no physicians here. Health care is a pig in a poke. Services are in the Big City which is far away. Not everyone has transportation.You could count the number of people who have ever left this community on one hand. We live in the hollows and the ravines and we make it difficult to find us.
We are not Democrats or Republicans. What we are is suspicious. We know who we are. The bottom of the barrel poor. We barely survive. We scrape by. We get our news from talk radio and standing in line at the post office. I do listen to the chatter. It's hateful. Everyone hates everyone.
There are few analogies. Comparisons. There are no doctors anyone can call.
8
A year ago I was hospitalized and needed a catheter to be inserted in my arm and pushed to a place within a fraction of an inch of my heart valves. The tv was on during the procedure being carried out from my hospital bed and was blaring the idiocy of the day concerning Trump. The nurse expressed a view that Clinton and Trump were equivalent. I overreacted and insisted she stop the procedure, get someone else to treat me and leave the room. I wound up being treated by a doctor and and assistant in a facility in which they were able to locate the end of the catheter in real time by way of imaging. Trumpism is anti-science and favors the propagation of politically expedient lies that damage human health for the benefit of its donors. If the hippocratic oath is based on the principal of "do no harm" and medical knowledge on the scientific method, then I don't see it being reconciled with Trumpism's overt attempts to allow pollution to spew from our factories and cars, destroy Obamacare and Planned Parenthood and deny basic principals of science in its denial of global warming. At the least, I expect to be treated but someone who had the general mental ability to detect a difference between Trump and Clinton and the expression of equivalence indicates either an indifference or lack of engagement with the political process or extremely poor judgment. By associating with Trump , medical professionals appear to be incompetent or unethical, even if in fact this is untrue.
268
I work in Berkeley, CA as a doctor. If there are Trumpists in my patient base and community, they "know better" than to identify themselves as such. The same is likely true with providers here. Still it is difficult to fathom a doctor's decision to limit options to say, family planning, based on his/her politics, I would hope such providers would not want to work in an environment where all options are on the table.
Unfortunately, Trump's decisions on health care or his attempts to change the delivery of health care services affects a wide swath of my patient base, many of them on Medicaid (MediCal in CA). The anxiety that has been triggered by these threats is, itself, injurious to their health, even if they never fully materialize.
Even if politics never enters the conversation, our patients' implicit "knowledge" that their doctor likely shares (empathizes with) their concerns is likely therapeutic and contributes to their well-being or recovery.
40
"By associating with Trump , medical professionals appear to be incompetent or unethical, even if in fact this is untrue." Well said, and it applies to any profession. Just think about all the professionals one deals with every day.
23
If readers to this remember Romney's infamous "47%" comment at a 2012-cycle fundraiser, implying that some 150 million fellow Americans are somehow "life unworthy of life" (a Nazi term for Jews, Gypsies, and others that regime detested), that reader knows all there is to know about what today's GOP mindset has become.
The Hippocratic Oath MUST be honored by all healthcare providers, and that mindset has no place in it.
My own family remaining in Europe in 1939 died in the very expensive Final Solution. The perverse value judgment explicit in Romney's statement, also implying that these people should vanish at little or no cost, would make a healthcare provider adherent more in line with Dr. Mengele than I'd find comfortable.
18
I understand the issue, however there are many putative Republican scientists who reject evolution and many basic tenets of science. Do you want a doctor who is skeptical of scientific theory, such as the role of vaccinations for the control of disease? It's true, a patient should evaluate the quality of the practitioner separate from his or her's political beliefs, but few Democratic doctors reject the tenets of science, probably nearly none. My CPA is a Republican, but one who rejects the stupidity and cruelty of the supply-side love of his party. That worked for me.
1
Don't ask, don't tell. I would be troubled if members of my huge medical "team" turned out to support policies or political figures I abhor. So, I, and I hope they, leave politics in the parking lot and we all stick to our knitting.
53
"Don't ask, don't tell." -- this is exactly what I would take or accept. In a workplace, let's be professional and concentrate on the work. I can accept that a patient or customer expresses his/her political view in a polite manner.
3
Couldn’t agree more. I have absolutely no idea what party any of my doctors are affiliated with and I’d like to keep It that way. I had a hair stylist once in Westport CT who took every opportunity to badmouth then President Obama. I thought this was insane and that she stood to lose business. She definitely lost mine.
2
I always thought for most ordinary people that politics was more of a point of view on governance or choices on how we as a country, can improve the lives of people to the maximum extent possible without leaving anyone behind. To achieve that end there maybe many solutions and politics is a debate at the end of which we come to some consensus of reasonableness. Politics is not a way of life. Of late, I heard some people moved out of some neighborhoods because they became an opposite party minority in their cul de sacs. That is as disappointing as picking your doctor based on political affiliations. I am a physician and I would treat Trump if he comes to me regardless of his tweets - most of which I do not agree.
1
What have we come to?
Yes I'd go to a Republican doctor. I WORK for a Republican doctor. I'd go to an Indian doctor, a Chinese doctor, a male doctor or female doctor. A gay doctor.
I understand that we have become polarized, but I am having a hard time understanding why party affiliation has become the substitute for religious affiliation as the primary arbiter of social prejudice. Time was, no one would go to a Catholic doctor.
The truth is I would not go to either of Trump's doctors - but it has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with not showing much integrity publicly.
I know that birds of a feather flock together. But we have taken our tribalism to insane heights. Can't we all just go back to living in ethnic neighborhoods if we need to build ourselves a tribe? Or go back to being Yankees fans or Mets fans? Being divided about whether you say soda or pop is lot more useful than being divided about whether you support a useless Democratic candidate or a useless Republican one.
72
It is really useful not to be divided in any respect, either as an individual or as a nation. Identification with one "team" or another can often become visceral, whether it is Dems v. Repubs or Yankees v Mets. The bigger the Us v. Them groups become, as our nation has, the greater the danger of polarization on matters that matter. Ironically, such differences are fabrications of the mind, and never truly existed to begin with.
1
This is total false equivalence. Nobody is responsible for "choosing" their race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, etc. We ARE all responsible for our political, moral and religious values. Don't dare conflate the two. Being a Trump supporter is not just another characteristic like being Indian, Chinese, or gay.
49
Considering all that embodies Trump and his codependents in Congress -the lies and complete lack of integrity- I'd have serious questions about someone who voted for, would continue to vote for, and approved of their policies to trust them with my health.
29
Important research that confirms a widely observed phenomenon. But in the real world, we don’t have similarly complete information. We have not just witnessed a number of doctors perform the same surgery, and even if we did, we might be unsure of our ability to judge their skill or ability in that area. So if we’re provided with an additional piece of information we DO feel competent to judge, it might, in effect, be the only objective measurement we have of the person’s intellect and judgement.
“Where did you meet?”
“The Flat Earth Society.”
With imperfect information or imperfect ability to judge in some areas, we reasonably fall back on what we know. And while Flat Earthers can certainly become proficient in specific skill sets, we know that, at some point, their judgement is capable of failing on very important questions. Thankfully, in most situations, we can choose a decent professional who has not demonstrated the same poor judgement in an area we feel competent to judge.
A key term missing from this ‘research’ is rationality. Most people believe their political choices are based on sound analytic thinking, reliable information and calm temperament.
The sort of reasoning that could embrace Trump ( not fiscal conservativism or moderate Republican views) would be a serious concern in a physician.
There are many nuanced judgment that make for wise clinical care - quite independent from prestigious training. I would certainly hesitate to choose a Trump enthusiast for my doctor.
4
Like most I've never thought of or knew my doctor's political affiliation. Would I, out of hand, reject a doctor because they were Republican? One would hope that someone becomes a doctor because they want to help people get and/or stay well as their primary motivation no matter their political leanings so it if that is their motivation it is hard to understand why someone with the hard anti-science misogynistic or racist attitudes exhibited in some hard line Republicans would want to become a doctor in the first place. But, as we've seen in the current administration, some people do go into a field to wield their agenda and to hurt people. But I would be sensitive to clues of being dismissive of me or science - like vaccines - no matter the political party.
However because of what we've seen Republicans stand for in the laws they put forth and in their stances on on women, women's health, and whether women's symptoms are even real, I would be more aware of whether the doctor seemed to be exhibiting dismissive or even hostile behavior especially if this was a new doctor. If given a choice, and I knew nothing else, the fact that Republicans are more likely to be antagonistic and patronizing toward women and to reject science for belief, I would believe that there is a greater chance that an unknown Republican doctor would be a greater risk to me than a Democratic or independent doctor.
4
I've always had close friends on the other side of the political fence. A good evening with friends is often filled with loud arguments and clashing opinions, never to be settled. Other times, however, when we talk about personal joys and sorrows, ask for advice or give it out, we find out that we are very similar in our personal lives, in our cares about children and parents, that we appreciate the same books and music and shed a tear at the same movies.
The debater in me always has me throw a line about politics to people like a new physician I visit. The only ones who bother me are the people who don't react. They are opinion-less, which makes them hollow, in my eyes, or maybe guarded in their opinions, which is, in my opinionated opinion, kinda furtive. The worst possibility is that they don't deem me worthy of their elevated musings and valuable time, which is worst. (Those chats happen while other - sometimes scary - stuff goes on.)
Through some tough times in my life I found the best doctors happy to chat and, sometimes, prolong a visit to kibitz about a political issue or a book. My less outgoing husband, who accompanies me at times, shakes his head in disbelief, after all our years together.
I went to a dentist for a number of years who was right of George Wallace. I endured diatribes with each visit. Finally when the receptionist called to schedule my semi annual visit, I told her I wasn't coming back. I wish I had had the courage to tell her why but I just wanted out.
3
It's easy to guess what specialities a student will choose when you know their political affiliations. That's evidence that their medical decision-making reflects their politics.
1
Would also be interesting to find out the converse, ie what the professionals would do if they know the persons consulting held opinions on social issues different to their's. Say, a Democratic leaning doctor treating a Republican leaning patient or a Republican leaning lawyer litigating for a Democratic leaning client.
2
I think this study is flawed. Choosing a doctor, someone you have to trust and depend upon for life-saving treatment, should in fact be someone you can trust and confide in.
Democrats and Republicans generally have distinctive views on health care: who should get health care, who is deserving of health care etc.
As a woman, I would definitely not go to a Republican doctor. Would I get full advice on reproductive issues? Would the doctor put his/her religious beliefs above my treatment? This is a real issue, with a case reported today recalling a 2012 situation when a woman in the middle of a miscarriage at 4 months, bleeding heavily, was refused treatment at a Catholic hospital since treatment would not guarantee the fetus would survive. She went to another hospital, was saved, but it nearly cost her her life.
When purchasing goods or services, people go to people they can trust, all things being equal.
Would I enter a real estate deal or work on a Trump building? Not on your life. He's not someone that can be trusted.
4
It's a long way from blaps to doctors. I'm a staunch atheist and liberal Democrat but my lawn care service is from a staunchly Christian family business that reminds me of the Duggar family with the 20 children from reality TV. The teen-age kids run the lawn mowers. I think they are home-schooled. As long as they take care of my yard, charge a fair price, keep their kids safe with goggles, etc., and don't proselytize I'm fine with them. They are kind and hard-working. I have inferred some things about the family from their annual photo Christmas card. They can infer my politics from political yard signs. If they had the fish symbol on their trucks or a religious business name I wouldn't have hired them.
But choosing a doctor is different. My doctor is caring for ME and not the grass in my yard. My doctor may well make assumptions about my conditions and appropriate treatment based on her ideology. Physicians' have beliefs about how health care should be paid for and who deserves to have it, and whether racism or immigration is a bigger problem for our country, beliefs that can well bias their relationships with patients of different SE status and ethnicity. Beyond reproductive rights, a doctor with a strong belief in "personal responsibility" over social and environmental causes may recommend different treatments for opioid addiction, obesity, osteoarthritis, ADHD, etc.
Bottom line for me--I'd have a hard time going to a Republican doctor.
6
I didn't know the political leanings of my former long-term doctor for a long time--but I should have. He didn't "believe in" talk therapy and medications for disorders he claimed didn't really exist, such as ADHD. The last time I saw that doctor he got on the soapbox disparaging Obamacare and Obama, forgetting to perform the usual physical exam before handing me a script for an antidepressant. Apparently he believed in that.
That doctor cost me 16 years of proper medical treatment. Political affiliation isn't everything, but I'll never just gloss over it again, knowing now how much damage people with rigid beliefs can do.
7
Years ago, I went to a new dentist for a consultation. His waiting room was standard fare, but the radio in the exam room was blasting Rush Limbaugh, obviously because the dentist enjoyed listening to Rush. My regular dentist plays a 60s rock station with the most pedestrian of local news reports and weather. I am a long-time Dem, and as a feminist, I lean left on social issues. I politely listened to what the dentist had to recommend, took literature he offered on the procedure, and never returned. I could not bear the thought of having extensive work done while listening to Rush pontificate.
6
I did go to a Republican doctor. Waiting for the radiologist after one of my mammograms, I was reading Bill Clinton's book. He came in, and said I ought to be reading about Reagan. We talked about Reagan, and books, and it was good!
25
Comparative epilogs to Reagan's and Clinton's books would be pretty interesting.
3
You should’ve said, you mean the guy who traded arms for hostages? Then lied about it. Who befriended every right wing death camp dictator there was? The guy who kept hostages held over 500 days while his minions worked behind the scenes promising a better deal to the Iranians?
You mean the guy that committed treason?
9
Mick, that's absurd. Why poison the relationship of the doctor who's trying to help you by being a jerk? You're at the doctor to get cured, not to score political points.
I quit my periodontist because he had Fox News on in the exam room a week after the horrible election. I asked him if that was his choice or his patients'.
When he said it was his choice I told him he'd never see me again. He responded, :"well, if it's that important to you." I said it was tearing our country apart.
7
If I had any political health issues, like being female or a person of color, I most certainly would not.
4
I am a doctor and a liberal Democrat. There are a small number of Trump supporters in the Doctors Lounge, and they are no less intelligent, skilled, or compassionate then anyone else. People are complex and emotional creatures and often hold what seen to others to be logically inconsistent beliefs. We all know that, don't we?
107
How can anyone be a Trump supporter and still expect to be seen as intelligent, skilled or compassionate?
What does it mean to be a Trump supporter?
30
Yes, but as a woman, their inconsistent beliefs may cost me my life. They may choose not to employ their intelligence, skill and compassion solely on the basis of my sex; therefore, I would avoid them.
We need to go back to the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. Men need to think long and hard on whether they would really want to be treated the way women are treated. Opening doors etc does not overcome medical mistreatment.
25
Is taking a passive position while choosing professional with raging cognitive dissonance really a good idea?
23
A friend of mine was successfully treating painful intercourse with Premarin Vaginal Cream until she went to a new OB-GYN who told her it was made from tortured horses.
So she stopped the Premarin cream and tried the other vaginal estrogens, none of which worked for her.
The result? My friend avoids having sex with her husband, because it’s too painful.
Yeah, doctors’ belief systems, including their politics, can directly affect—and harm—patients.
4
People who see choosing a task partner as approval or help to that partner will choose a member of their own tribe.
The most recommended comment on this board states the commentator is "cares very much about my doctors' political leanings" and wants to know how the person caring for her "thinks about my agency and desires should be respected" and then goes on to slam the Republican party
This is a perfect example of how bitterly divided this country has become. Now even your doctor's political beliefs are part of the war
2
years ago my wife developed leukemia rather late in pregnancy.
We were fortunate in that she was just far enough along to perform a rather quick c section. The elephant in the room was what to do if the fetus maturity was not as advanced as it was. My wife was sinking like a rock.... If the doctor in that case would have gone right to life instead of life of my wife.....The doctor's politics do not matter until they do.
15
Any physician making a point to tout her political beliefs deserves to face discrimination by patients.
5
Being a Republican shows gross lack of judgement. The same goes for the majority of men. I go mostly to female professionals because they actually listen to me.
5
There are many professionals that I would retain for their services despite them being Republicans, but a doctor is not one of them. No way. A bedrock principle of modern Republicanism is the rejection of science and factual reality whenever commanded by their party leaders. This is a critical, insurmountable flaw for a physician; a profession that relies on impartial adherence to factual reality. If you deny evolution, if you deny global warming, if you absurdly believe that birth control pills are a form of abortion, then you will never be my doctor. Heck... on the non-science end of things, if you believe that President Obama was secretly from Kenya, the most complicated task I’ll ever retain you for is mowing my lawn.
7
Would I go to a Republican doctor? No. If he votes Republican his decision-making skills come into question immediately. Why would I allow such a flawed human being to make decisions that would affect my health?
7
I think I would differentiate between a Republican and a Trump supporter. The former could (possibly) be a fiscally conservative older person that used to support George H.W. Bush, the latter? Please. I wouldn't hire someone to pump my septic tank if I knew they wore a MAGA hat, let alone trust them with my life!
152
Unfotunately, there are fewer and fewer Republicans who do not support Trump. His approval ratings continue to grow. Probably because they are seeking shelter from the incessant bombastic rain of slurs, insults and overgeneralizations of folks like you and me. We should keep that in mind, too.
4
Sadly, this study mirrors my professional and personal life experiences. Even at home, my 4-year-old daughter incessantly asks her mother, my wife, if whatever I happen to have told her is true. And no, it never happens going in the opposite direction. As for doctors, I HAD a Republican doctor. He was quite good at first, but grew increasingly right-of-Tea-Party and fortunately retired just about the time I was about to fire him. Near the end, he spent more time talking conspiracy theories about bodies hidden in Hillary Clinton's closet than about my body, as he thought he could convert me. We all love the sound of our own voices and slimming mirrors.
8
There are perfectly rational reasons that an affiliation with the Republican Party should influence patients.
The Republican Party's stated position on healthcare is that medical care is just like any other consumer product or service. That ideology implicitly encourages physicians to act like other business people -- to maximize their profits. And, as only the least naive person doesn't know, that means not always sharing information with the customer that could be at one's own expense.
4
There is no reason for false pretenses. I am an elitist,
Republican, white man. Yet, I vote for what I believe
to be in the best interests of our country. I voted for
Bill C., not Hillary, a phony. I did not vote for Obama
as he was not qualified. My family supports minority
causes. I am not ashamed to be a conversative. If
you or your children are ill and will not visit a Republican
physican that is your loss.
1
Recently, as a volunteer physician, I saw a patient at a free clinic.
In the midst of our discussion of the problems, it was mentioned that the patient had worked in the past for Republican political activities and had just missed starting a job which would have involved opportunities to see the president.
I was (internally) shocked that a patient at a free clinic would hold such a viewpoint.
I only agreed that the missed job opportunity was a stressor.
3
Sorting blaps is clearly quite different than replacing a knee. Always find the best of the best. Politics can wait.
3
Republicans who support Trump do not support a woman's ability to make choices about her body. Just as I wouldn't go to an Evangelical church on Sunday, I would never knowingly have a Republican physician-- or anything else-- because I believe in pesky things like facts.
10
I live in a fairly conservative metro. As long as the doc is competent, compassionate, doesn't ask me about or preach about any political viewpoints and makes sure to "do no "harm", I don't really care where his or her politics are.
5
Wow, talk about designing a trial to get the results one wants. We truly are circling the drain when so-called experts are this weak minded. Reducing situations to their smallest common denominator in order to analyze is often not the most productive path. Especially in social/political science.
1
I’m sure the thousands of patients Ben Carsons, Rand Paul, and countless other republicans have treated must regret having their brains repaired or their eyes fixed. It makes them too able to see and understand the partisan nonsense that is gripping our country.
4
For specialists or emergency medicine, where the need to be seen is both immediate and the provider's available are limited, I would want to be seen by the professional available, regardless of their party affiliation. However, as a gay man in a poly amorous, open relationship, it is very important to me that my personal doctor and psychiatrist be progressive, liberal and open-minded. This is simply a matter of fact for many LGBTQ patients.
6
I got very lucky finding a great doctor here in Naples FL, a very red town. As a bonus he hates Trump at least as much as I do! This doctor also sees undocumented people pro bono. Ralph's a great guy.
7
Does he treat poor American citizens pro bono?
Would knowing the politics of these two doctors affect my decision to be a subject in their study? Depends.
1
I only go to Republican doctors because there aren't any other kind where I live. We have the best medical care on the world and we will not let some government program destroy it. Of course we are Republicans.
2
Most transactions like this are conducted don't ask, don;t tell. If it became obvious I would find another doctor just as I don't hire other people or patronize businesses that are obviously pro-Trump. I have jettisoned former friends and family members that are Trump supporters. I don't miss them. Life is too short to put up with such nonsense.
2
It all the same to me which party they support. Even a Trump supporting doc would not make any difference. Seems to me political loyalties come from that part of the brain that keeps us from falling over and is unvetted by the smart area. It's not just doctors; we all go off the rails about politics. Especially the politicians. As John Milton would say; "abandon reason all who enter here" Or was it Dante Alighieri ?
1
I can’t recall ever knowing what a doctor’s political affiliation was. And perhaps that’s been a good thing, now that I read this article.
I confess I have found it difficult to believe that Ben Carson was an esteemed neurosurgeon given his whacko beliefs about the Pyramids, his nonsensical “deer in the headlights” statements, his spendthrift and then mendacious behavior re the custom office furniture, etc. It does seem to be true that someone’s behavior in one domain colors perception of them in others.
3
The GOP's attitude toward science is well known. It's hard to imagine that good doctors would want be associated with such a mob.
1
Considering that so much of the the outlandish costs of medical care have been shaped by and perpetuated by Republican values, your nose is being rubbed into Republican with almost every exposure to US medical care. "Tom Price" might as well be written all over it.
1
Health care is about more than just competence; physicians are human beings with their own biases. These biases lead to unequal outcomes in health care. Depending on who you are, demographically, you may be very concerned that a doctor's biases concerning you will lead to worse treatment. Studies show doctors blow off complaints of pain from African Americans more often than for white people. What about gay people? Does a woman want a doctor who is morally opposed to birth control? Political beliefs are about values, and they shape how people do jobs. This is even more concerning given the push to allow health care workers to use their religious beliefs to refuse to provide treatments to patients.
4
This is why we need a national leader who can change the narrative from Left-Liberal vs. Right-Conservative to middle class vs. billionaire class. We’re in a struggle between classes and we in the middle are divided and weakened and that’s why we’re losing. Instead of blaming each other we should recognize that Globalization and the technological revolution has resulted in a political revolution the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the Industrial revolution shifted power to the Middle. So we have a new ascendant aristocracy making fools of us. Join together. Up the Union!
I voted for Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Robert Dole for president, yet I now avoid contact with any Republican. It's because they're in bed with Trump and his ghastly regime. I wouldn't trust a Republican with my health or to treat those I love. With the Republicans' stance on reproductive rights, firearms, and many other issues, Republicans are an existential threat--they are to be shunned.
3
I think this goes beyond just political leanings and to reputation in general. If someone (or business) has a bad reputation we are inclined to believe the worst even if the information is false. The opposite for a good reputation. Thus a highly recommended lawyer or doctor who is really not as good as one who is less known gets a pass even if they are really doing substandard work.
I was married to a brilliant academic physician for 45 years. When I married him he was an anti war liberal Democrat. By the time he died, he was a conservative Republican who supported Bush and the invasion of Iraq. Most people have a primary issue that determines their party affiliation. Mine was women's rights. His was support of Israel. Not taxes, not opposition to socialized medicine. Of course he "believed" in evolution and a woman's right to control her body. With rare exceptions, physicians' compassion and expertise have no relationship to their party affiliation.
1
Ones political beliefs matter little in sorting blaps. However, I will be leary of any doctor that shows the contempt for science that one must have to be a climate change skeptic. Science is not an unrelated skill for a doctor.
Knowing that my physician was and still supports this illegitimate administration would make me think that they are seriously missing their marbles, and I would be out of that office in a flash.
Likewise, any business that would display similar endorsement of this administration would not get my business, ever.
What I have often noticed is that some of the most competent an professional people I know are Republicans. Therefore, I would prefer not to know one's political affiliation. I vote for Republicans for judgeships in my Republican state of Texas because sometimes they are the most qualified.
I have long chosen my doctors according to their political leaning. Today, being a republican means agreeing with a presumption of authority over women especially in terms of gynecological health, limiting access to birth control and abortion. That the rates of republicans who claim women are treated the same as men are scarily high in the face of the reality that women are discriminated against in almost every way. Someone so deluded will not be allowed to make medical decisions for me.
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I'm curious. When you go to a new doctor at what point in the exam do you ask what his or her political leanings are? I would think that any self-respecting doctor who instantly reject you as a patient for even asking the question.
I'm in my 60's and have never, not once, known any of my doctor's political beliefs. I've had my share of bad doctors and I'm pretty sure it wasn't because they were Republicans. They were just bad doctors.
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