Clues for the Clueless – angrydoc’s Handbook for Patients

"No, treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable." – House

Readers of this blog will know by now that the patient-doctor relationship is a source of stress for doctors. Papers have been published in journals, and formal teaching in medical school has been established. But despite that, many patients and doctors still find their patient-doctor encounter to be less than satisfactory.

angry doc believes he knows why.

Fact is, a relationship involves at least two parties (in this case the doctor and the patient) and so far all the studies and education had focused on the doctor.

It seems to me to be barking up the wrong tree to be focusing your attention on highly-educated and highly-trained individuals who have undergone four to six years of training and do this professionally, and not those who are not educated on the subject, who are often ill- or mis-informed, and who have no clue about their duty in the patient-doctor relationship.

Yes, you read me right.

If you are surprised by the news that you have a duty in the patient-doctor relationship, I am talking about you, clueless.

As early as 1951, Parson described the 'Sick Role', listing a patient’s rights and obligations. What angry doc hopes to do over the next few entries is to lay out what he thinks a patient ought to know to help him understand his role in the patient-doctor relationship.

angry doc does not presume to speak for the medical fraternity as a whole, the Ministry of Health, the Singapore Medical Council or the Singapore Medical Association, or any other organisation. The opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.