A Doctor's Point of View on the Doctor Patient Relationship

Wow. The good doctor is both profoundly articulate and insightful and I thank him for commenting here. One tends to think of these sort of questions from the patient's point of view and forget that doctors are people too. And I do not mean to joke. More than anything, this interview reminds me the doctor patient relationship at its best is between two people with the same goal. Of course the physician must remain professional, and make decisions based on scientific knowledge. In this, he or she is the expert. But there are two experts. The patient knows best what he or she is feeling and how the illness is manifesting in their own body. It's a team effort, and thus communication can be so important.

Dr. Sethi has been my favorite doctor since your first interview with him on January 5th and every article and Q&A he's favored us with since then, only make me fonder of the man. Especially his ability at clarity in translating all his technical knowledge and experience to that which even I understand. No small feat.   I will admit to reading his blog and leaving him probably mundane comments, yet he has always treated them, and me, with the utmost warmth.

I personally prefer an honest assessment from everyone in life, even if it is, I don't know, or there is nothing that can be done, in plain language. Telling me otherwise, benefits who? Not me.

Doctors are very human and can make mistakes, well, maybe not neurologists, but those other guys. I'm kidding. To me, a second opinion may be a chance for me to learn something new, even if only a validation. For the doctor and me.

If Doctor Sethi were our physician, I should not look forward to your next article. He is not, so I do. I have my own perspective, but I'm interested in what you have to say. Thank you both for all of this work.

I think that sometimes we tend to forget that the doctor is human also.  But on the other aide of that coin the patient sometimes cannot see past his or her suffering, which is not fair to the doctor, nor is it the doctor's fault.  I feel that the patient wants to know that he or she has the doctor's best interest at hand, and not feel like they are rushed or are on a time constrant.  I think that the patient knows that they cannot come into the doctor's office with a tablot full of questions the doctor really does not have the time, but if he or she shows just a litte concern it makes all of the difference in the world.  A lot of doctor's do this, and there are a lot who do not.  Some actually do care, but because of issues beyond their control, they must keep it moving, let us just be honest.  It is understandable.  That does not make them bad doctors, just honest doctors, and good doctors.  I am blessed to have one of those which I love.  I perfer to call a spade a spade.