Thanks to improvements in medical education and oversight, most doctors today are well educated and have solid credentials. "The differences between good and bad are more subtle, more personal, harder to detect, but just as critical for you," says George LeMaitre, a surgeon and author of How to Choose a Good Doctor.

San Francisco Bay Area pediatrician Laurel Schultz says so-called "bad" doctors usually aren't bad people. They may be overworked, bored, or burned out – or a combination of the three. Or maybe they never liked being a doctor in the first place. "Their eyes are glazed over," says Schultz. "They've lost their intellectual curiosity. They really don't care, and it shows."

Atlanta pediatrician and American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson Jennifer Shu encourages patients to trust their instincts. "Go with your gut reaction. If you don't feel good about a physician, go somewhere else. Remember that your best friend's doctor may not be right for you and your family."

What are other good ways to recognize a bad doctor? We checked in with experts who identified seven warning signs to watch out for:

An indifferent or uncaring attitude

You're looking for medical care, not a new friend – so a sparkling personality probably isn't a priority when choosing a doctor. Still, it's smart to steer clear of one who is consistently cold and patronizing, or who has no memory of you from one visit to the next.

This may sound obvious, but sometimes a prestigious medical degree, fancy address, or robust marketing campaign can conceal the fact that a physician is a lackluster practitioner. As LeMaitre points out, "caring and curing cannot be separated."

When it comes to your child's doctor, pay attention to how he or she interacts with your child. A visit to the doctor can be a frightening experience, and a caring pediatrician or family doctor will take the time to make your little one feel comfortable.

Doesn't listen, unresponsive

The most highly trained and experienced doctor still needs to listen to his or her patients and be open to their feedback and concerns.

Humility is important, says ob-gyn William Barth Jr., chief of the maternal-fetal medicine division at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Barth also chairs the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' committee on obstetrics practice.)

"As a patient, if I go to a doctor who says, 'I know what to do, this is the only way to do it, and you should just listen to me,' I'll be out the door in 30 seconds. I want someone who takes a considered and open-minded approach, not someone who is dogmatic and overconfident," Barth says.

Most doctors are extremely busy, but a good doctor will still take the time to answer your questions. If you're made to feel that your concerns or questions are foolish or inappropriate, it's a bad sign.

As a patient, you have the right to expect courtesy and responsiveness, not just from your doctor but from everyone in the office – from the receptionist to the advice nurse. The doctor, or someone in the office, should respond to your phone calls in a timely manner.

Lack of knowledge

Consider changing doctors if yours – or your child's – doesn't seem to keep up with the latest medical literature or be aware of medical breakthroughs or other health information. Part of the job is to educate patients about their health. That means explaining the results of medical tests, keeping patients informed about drugs prescribed, and providing nutrition and other health advice.

Don't expect your doctor to be able to respond to all your questions or diagnose every problem on the spot. But it is reasonable to expect your medical provider to find the answers and get back to you.

If you detect a pattern of errors by your doctor or your doctor's staff – the wrong tests are ordered, for example, or messages don't get passed on – find another provider. Everyone makes mistakes, of course, but repeated oversights or routine sloppiness could indicate that your doctor makes bigger blunders as well.

See the other four signs of a bad doctor.

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