Oh sure, you can say that your back hurt or that your neck got stiff. The flip side of this coin is that if you went to the doctor often, the insurance company will try to paint you as a cry baby who went to the doctor every time his door opened. In that instance, the patient, who may very well have a psychological overlay to his or her problem, is not so informed. That patient not only will not get proper psychiatric care, but will not have a good chance of recovering anything in a courtroom. Doctors often present one of the biggest obstacles to your recovery.
Lawyers are about the only profession that acts as an effective watchdog against the bad doctor.
While the number of bad doctors are probably a very small percentage, the perception is that lawyers are scouring the hills looking for the least little medical slip up so that a lawsuit can be filed. While this is not an accurate picture, it is the perception foisted upon the public by the insurance industry and the doctors organizations themselves. See the section on medical malpractice insurance. The focus of this section is to show the problems that your doctor can cause you through careless or thoughtless notes in your medical records. Every time you visit your doctor, he or she will make an entry in your medical file.