Patient mentality

Why is it that some women who are strong, intelligent and independent in their everyday lives suddenly become passive, obedient and unquestioning the minute they walk through the doors of the hospital? I have recently looked after a woman, who was questioning what the hospital staff were doing whilst I was alone with her, only to find that the minute the doctors appeared, she suddenly underwent a personality transplant and became a meek robot who merely responded “Yes, doctor” to the medical staff carrying out several quite unnecessary tests (when all previous results were normal) thus prolonging her hospital stay.