where does doctor-patient communication take place? (Cassie)

Whenever we think of doctor-patient communication, the interaction in the healthcare units comes to our mind; for example, in hospital wards and in the operation rooms. The fact is, communication between doctors and patients are taking place even when they are not being together.

Think about this: When you go back home from the hospital after the consultation with your doctor, and you talk to your parents or friends about what you have just experienced, is this a kind of comunication with your doctor?

Of course this is not direct communication, but still it can be considered as indirect communication. You are communicating with your doctor without him noticing this.

Isn't this make the doctor-patient communication more challenging? You cannot control what message is flowing out there, and you honestly have no idea how to control it.

When do doctors start communicating?

In our first class I explained a situation that happened to a friend of mine at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. Ultimately, the situation resulted in his death.

During one of our class discussions we talked about communication between doctors and patients. We also talked about how a lot of patients are now starting to take responsibility for their care and educating themselves on what they are feeling and how to communicate it effectively to their doctor before they even get to their appointment. The fact that patients are starting to do this is a really good thing because it truly does enable them to communicate effectively with their doctor. But my question is this; if we has patients are taking the time to better educate ourselves in order to communicate better with our doctor, then why aren't our doctors doing the same?

In the situation with my friend a doctor had actually sent him, not recommended but sent him, to the hospital for treatment because he was presenting with a severe case of diabetes and was obviously starting to go into a diabetic shock. At the hospital, the doctor who treated him didn't listen at all to my friend, or the friend who had driven him, didn't run any tests, and told my friend to go home and drink fluids because he was just dehydrated. So my friend, not being able to convince the doctor of anything else, went home where he went into a diabetic coma, had a heart attack, and died. He died because a doctor refused to listen and properly communicate with him. So while it's great that patients are taking responsibility in the communication department, why do some doctors get away with not having to do the same? Especially when the lack of communication results in a death. So again I ask, when do doctors start communicating?

Two Coveted Letters -- M.D.

After our first class discussion, I keep coming back to the question of whether or not patients are willing to take on the “consequences” of their decisions that are based on their own medical research. Solely based upon my thoughts, I believe that people think differently of doctors now than they did years ago. I feel that doctors were much more respected in years past. The two letters, MD, that followed their names symbolized to patients that their doctor had gone through extensive schooling to be able to help them with medical problems. These two letters also symbolized something that not all people felt they could accomplish for themselves. In a sense, it was a coveted occupation that only few had the privilege to achieve.

Now, particularly in the United States, I feel patients have begun to feel more empowered. That the letters “MD” do not carry the weight of respect that they once did. Why? I can remember as a child hearing over and over again, you can be anything you want to be. I think we have really embraced this thought, now more than ever. The internet has become a tool for empowerment. Now, information is easily obtained -- figuratively and actually at our fingertips -- no longer only accessible to those privileged to go to medical school. We, essentially, can become our own doctors.

So my question now is, if or better yet when we improve doctor/ patient communication, will this bring back a patients respect for doctors? Or will we, as patients, still want to gain information for ourselves?