Talking to the Patient

One common criticism of medical care all over the world is about de-humanising effect of "modern scientific medicine”. 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.