In all honesty to date, I have not had a bad doctor or a terrible lawyer. I may count myself extremely fortunate compared to some, especially last week when I was seriously ill with life threatening infections that were swiftly dealt with. The following is a personal account, nothing more. Just a statement of how things went, how I feel.

A good doctor won't try to make you feel like an idiot and mine certainly didn't last week. A doctor's professional relationship with their patient is to build on trust and maintain a nice bedside manner no matter what the situation. But doctors particularly hospital doctors in the UK's NHS will work horribly long hours - yet - are still expected to be on top of their profession. A big problem with some doctors is, they do think they honestly know it all and they have to be right. But the reality is, they can't always be right so they work on the medical evidence of, say, what a patient's blood test reveals and if their markers are good, then they will prescribe the best antibiotic to deal with the infection. All my life I have been beset with a personal illness and each time a doctor has saved my life. I cannot speak badly of my doctor, or the one in my London area. Last week I was very well treated in hospital in the West Country and though very poorly at the time, had to put my trust wholly in the healthcare team working with me. So, three cheers to them!

As for lawyers, their skill depends on what they particularly specialise in; their reputation in court for winning their client's claim. A great lawyer has to see things from the client's point of view, the opposing counsel's point of view and most importantly, what a neutral [judge or jury] will think. An even bigger skill set is to be able to talk to each side with their point of view in mind. In my domestic situation thaty went awfully violent, my lawyer settled a high court case for me with great success against my ex who harrassed, bullied and hit me in pitiless violence.

My lawyer specialised in criminal law. He was gifted with extraordinary observation. He convinced the jury of my ex's thuggishness leaving them in no doubt as to her intentions. His oratory and articulation was fantastic as was his speech and command in the court, convincing the jury. He got into my ex's twisted mindset and attacked her motives so cleverly that she had to be restrained from hitting him. And that is the other reason why I am alive today.