I suppose my situation demands optimism. However, I think both scenarios you're describing do happen, and I have no idea in what proportions. There's also a whole spectrum of behaviour between them.
I don't know how to prevent the scenario you're seeing, some patients are really passive. Any ideas?
Some of my optimism must stem from the fact that I'm finnish. Mostly public health care, minimal advertising and bans on most kinds of bribery help. Unfortunately the situation is quickly eroding due to privatization. (I'm not against privatization per se, just the way it's usually done.)
some patients are really passive
The passivity of a patient is not a good reason for the doctor to decide that he now has to run the patient's life.
must stem from the fact that I'm finnish. Mostly public health care, minimal advertising and bans on most kinds of bribery help.
More things help like cultural and religious uniformity (yes, I know about the Swedish minority, no, they're not different enough to matter) which leads to the high level of trust in the society, specifics of culture (protestant work ethic, strong cultural disapproval of cheating), etc.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.