How perfect that after presenting two workshops last week on "Dealing with Conflict", I was thrown into yet another interesting situation. After having experienced a frustrating doctor visit this week I am compelled to share this topic with you.

How often do we know in our gut that the answer we have been given by a professional just doesn't feel right to us?  Yet we put these people whether they are doctors, dentists, CPA's etc on a pedestal and take their word because they are supposed to be an expert in their field.  Expert may not be the proper word but we believe them to certainly know more than we do and recommend what is best for us.

Yet, how many times deep down does the answer just not seem right to you?  How often do you have the guts to ask enough questions to feel confident with the information you have been given?  Here is the situation I was presented with.

While visiting my mother in Arizona last week I shared with her that I had a funny looking mole in my hairline.  Naturally she wanted me to go right away to her dermatologist, which I did.  They took a sample and called this week to let me know it is a basil cell carcinoma and I should have it removed.

Thankfully I was told this is one of the least problematic cancers you can get but it should be removed soon.  I called my doctor here in Denver to make an appointment.  They wanted to look at it first so I rushed right in to give them a look.

After a very long wait, where I was watching before and after pictures on the many cosmetic procedures available, I was then put into a room where yet again a screen was flashing before and after photos of procedures.  After a short visit with the doctor he advised me to tell the office worker to schedule me for a 30 minute procedure.

She informed me I could come in August 18^th.  My gut reaction was, "Are you kidding me?  I have a cancer that needs to be removed and you want me to wait till August?"  She smiled and politely asked if I would like to be on a waiting list and made it clear that if I did, their policy would be to not leave a message, if I didn't answer the phone.

My reaction had been building as my gut was certainly telling me this was not how I would choose to handle this and I was not happy.  I took a breath and loudly said, "So what you are telling me is, doing liposuction and face lifts is more important than removing some cancer cells from a patient."  I marched out feeling great for speaking my mind. It felt great to look for and find a new doctor that will see me in two weeks.

I found it very empowering to call the office manager back to cancel my original appointment.  I calmly explained that if cosmetic procedures are what they prefer to do then maybe it would be a good idea to set people's expectations properly and refer them to other doctors.  She informed me that was not true and that they could now see me in June.  I explained I would never visit their office again and that I found their attitude to be completely disrespectful and insulting.

So my question to all of you is how often do you speak your truth?  When your intuition is telling you something doesn't sound right are you willing to question it?  This is not conflict it is asking for what you need to know to feel comfortable.  Any professional that does not want to do so should not be in business.  This is your life and you are in control of your destiny.  Be willing to speak your truth so that you never have to go back and question your decision later.  Listen to your intuition it is always right.