Leana Wen: What your doctor won’t disclose

I was told by a doctor after asking to have my Vitamin D level tested "Vitamin D? you're too young to worry about stuff like that.." (I was 26). I insist, and he calls a few days later to say 'You're severely deficient, under 20 nmol/L which is below the sensitivity of the test".  Your health is really in your own hands... can't trust doctors to do it for you.

A step in the right direction, but do you know what I want most? A doctor who respects and listens to me. A doctor who makes recommendations based on what they believe is best for my situation. I want a doctor who doesn't talk to me like I'm too stupid to understand basic biology, a doctor who will tell me, in detail, what they think is going on, and possible solutions. I've suffered various problems for 20 years now, and I have seen many doctors. I'm still suffering, and I'm beyond frustrated. Am I going to have to go to medical school just to figure out why I feel like garbage? Can I no longer trust anyone but myself? Why does it have to be this way?

This happens when people become doctors for the wrong reasons. If you want to make money go sell real estate, you'll make a lot more and wont work as many hours. Don't mess with people's lives, they are not machines, once they are gone you can't bring them back. This is highly unethical and doctors who engage in this kind of predatory behavior towards their patient should not be allowed to practice medicine ever again.

Leana Wen does an incredible impression of a human being here. If you just ignore all her facial expressions and all body language cues…she really might pass for a real person.

I wish Dr Wen was our family doctor. For several years we were blessed to have a husband and wife team for our doctors. They were the best -- They always treated their patients as people - not just a body filling an appointment time. We need more doctors like Dr Wen.

And in 2021 she says traveling in your own state is not a right

This is why my clinic does what it does. Our motto is "your symptoms tell a story and we listen," and the important part is that we listen. And it's why we don't have to advertise, even with insurance companies (and let's face it, most doctors "take" insurance" because then they don't have to find patients themselves - it's marketing more than payment). The therapeutic relationship is key to all healing relationships. And it's why I am busy. My patients send more patients to me. And the other doctors' practices we work with also refer to us for more complicated cases. It's about medicine, but the outcomes are diminished without an honest and open therapeutic relationship, no matter how talented a doctor is. Dr. Wen is absolutely spot on. I have serious respect for her.

Now she's a big pharma herself.

According to Hippocratic Oath, shouldn't doctors already be fully transparent with their patients?

transparency is a form of honesty. honesty is a form of love, and love is the key to the new world.

A very sincere and brave human being. I'm quite sure the majority of doctors would not be signing up for sure, and I am rather surprise that TED even allows her to talk or hasn't pull this video off air yet. The world needs more of such honest , genuine and beautiful person like her, doctor or otherwise.

I don't trust my doctor one but. I have really bad asthma and I told her I don't want to keep taking preventive tablets for the rest of my life and asked what should i do ? Was there any alternatives ? Does excercise help ? She told me I have to take them no matter what and do not excersise much ... I did not take her advice I quit the tablets after 3 weeks of running and I don't have asthma any more ... They are paied to give you prescriptions I don't believe they are interested in your overall wellbeing. They don't know a lot about nutrition or excersise just medicine. But great nutrition can cure 90% of disease !!!!!!

She makes a lot of sense and brings up some points that shouldn't be allowed to remain in the shadows. A Dr that represents a certain drug or drug company clearly has a conflict of interest when it comes time to prescribe medications to you. I'd much prefer a Dr with her openness than most of this dr's that keep a wall between you and them.

I was at a psychiatrist's office once and I noticed that on her desk she had a mug with the word Cymbalta on it.  Guess what she prescribed for my depression?  Against my better judgement I took it, and it doubled my depression and anxiety.  I very nearly killed myself.  

I'm a Family Physician in Ohio.  I fully support Dr. Wen and this disclosure project.

And in 2021, I have lost all trust in doctors, pharma, and government.

Mrs. Wen raised a gutsy kid. Sometimes it only takes one person to make a difference. Sometimes you are that one person.

This video didn’t age well.

"I'm American, and I'm already here." Pure gold.

Why isn't SHE honest about who's paying HER?