Most physicians are not used to dealing with intelligent patients who are truly involved in their own healthcare. They don't know how to handle them, and so, I think, they pretend they don't exist.

My SO bbwoof is currently in the hospital for acute idiopathic pancreatitis (his pancreas is inflamed for no apparent reason). Two days ago I was in the room when the resident stopped in to check on him. I've been researching pancreatitis, so I asked her several questions about his bloodwork and the location of the inflammation. She answered, and asked me if I was a doctor? She was quite taken aback to learn that I was just an intelligent concerned computer geek, and left the room with little further conversation....