MANTRA FOR SCORPION STING? - 3
DR R.D. LELE
Talking to the
Patient
One common criticism of medical care all over the world is
about de-humanising effect of "modern scientific medicineā. The patients
feel that doctors are too busy to talk to them-to explain to them wrong with
them, what is being done to them and what is going to hap to them, what tests
are being done and why is their blood drawn so many times; why they are being
sent to different departments with awesome equipment like CT and MRI scanner in
which they feel claustrophobic.pilferage of milk or eggs or drugs will be
noticed at once. If the Physician bends down and picks up a Are these tests
going to hurt? Is it dangerous? Is there going to be an operation? Is that
dangerous? Is there danger of death, disability or paralysis? All these fears are to be understood and
addressed and explanations should be offered in simple non-technical terms that
the patient can understand.
Communication with the patient and the anxious relatives is
an essential ingredient of a successful doctor-patient relationship and a lot
of unnecessary anxiety and avoidable suffering can be avoided by timely
communication in a compassionate manner. Doctors and nurses should find time to
talk to patients and their anxious relatives.