In Part One of this Series Doctor Nitin Sethi had graciously agreed to share his viewpoints of the relationship between doctor and patient from the doctor's point of view.  This time I will offer my point of view from the standpoint of being a patient.

I do hope you feel free to contribute with your own take on this dynamic between patient and doctor.  We want to hear your stories and thoughts on this topic.

What are some of the personal qualities which are important for a doctor to develop rapport and trust with patients?

In my opinion the traits I am most looking for in a doctor are knowledge, compassion, communication skills, empathy, and good organizational skills. 

I want a doctor who will take the time to listen to me and validate my concerns.  I also want a doctor who is skilled in their specialty and has the knowledge to take care of me.  It is also important to me that I have a doctor who keeps their appointments and returns phone calls. 

What personal qualities do you look for in a doctor?

 Why is it that so many people do not ask questions of their doctor?

This is a question which I have pondered for some time.  I really get a feel for how bad things have gotten between doctors and patients through my work here on Health Central.  There are so many questions asked which are best answered by the person's doctor.  Yet people would rather ask their peers for answers than the medical community.

And I can understand some of the possible reasons behind this.

I think one reason is time constraints.  You go to see your doctor and they only have so much time.  You have to think of your questions ahead of time and get to the most pertinent ones first.  The doctor simply may not have time to address all of your questions.   I think too, in our high tech society we want answers now.  We don't want to have to wait for a doctor to return our call.  So we turn to other resources.

Another reason may be that we trust someone who has been there and done that.  A doctor can give their medical viewpoint of a procedure or medication but if they have not gone through it themselves then they cannot fully give you that firsthand experience so many of us wish to know.

Still yet another reason why people may be reluctant to ask questions of their doctor is that they may feel intimidated or uncomfortable.  Communication is sometimes a barrier as we might not understand what the doctor is saying to us when we do ask a question.  In search of laymen terms and explanations we seek our answers elsewhere.

So what do you think?  Why are so many people reluctant to ask their doctor questions?

In my opinion is it good for the patient to have researched their symptoms or condition on the internet before going to see their doctor?