Roger Coe Eddy edited subsubsection_A_Physician_Loses_Her__.tex  over 7 years ago

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\subsubsection{Discussion:}  When an ongoing relationship exists between the doctor and patient an opportunity exists to repair mistakes and faulty communication. Faced with the possibility of malignancy, or in other crisis situations neither the patient, nor the doctor may be in optimal shape to clearly communicate their questions, doubts and explanations. Return visits and follow-ups, even with consultants, may be invaluable in correcting mistakes and misperception perceptions  that occurs in brief, stressful, or emergency encounters. Doctors and patients are faced with conflict between their wishes for personal contact and demands of professional responsibility. Patients want to get to know their doctors so they can build faith and trust. This is true even if the encounter is a “technical” one as it was in this example. Patients do not want some “Bozo” doing a biopsy of their kidney, or putting a large tube down their gullet or up their rear end. It is important for physicians to take the time whenever this is humanly possible to explain what they are doing, why they are doing it, and what the patient’s experience will be like.  Patient anxiety and cognitive confusion when ill may make it impossible for the patient to ask for the information or reassurance they need. The physician needs to develop standard psychological procedures for dealing with this anxiety or confusion and to constantly review these procedures for their adequacy. A patient who is unhappy with a procedure gives the doctor a signal that indicates they may not be preparing patients adequately. adequately.\cite{Cassell_1997}  Lastly physicians should be aware of the psychological phenomena of identification and how it may affect their treatment of patients for good or ill. In this case example the doctor identified with a patient who was very much like her. However this led to the doctor becoming anxious to do an exceptional job and hyper-professional in her attempt to both do something and conceal her anxiety. When the physician becomes aware with hindsight that such an error has been made a phone call or letter to the patient might well be appropriate. When the patient is aware of nagging questions or unresolved anger they also might consider contacting the physician in an attempt to work out the problem. \cite{Allsop1999}This is an example of a useful slip or mistake that caused the doctor to reflect on her own behavior. The reflection is useful in correcting the mistake and her professional manner, not only with this patient but others in the future.  

Allsop, Judith and Linda Mulcahy (1999), Doctors responses to patient complaints., in Rosenthal, Marilynn, Linda Mulcahy, and Sally Lloyd-Bostock (eds.), (Medical Mishaps, Buckingham, UK: Open University Press), s),