Doctors are trained to be observant and skilled at picking up cues from patients. They also have a duty to disclose medical errors that cause injury or illness.
When physicians hide mistakes, they can be held liable for malpractice. A medical malpractice lawyer will be able to help you determine whether your physician has hidden information about a past mistake.
Doctors Are Trained to Pick Up Cues
The good news is that doctors are trained to pick up a lot of cues, both verbal and non-verbal. Many studies have documented the importance of understanding patients’ concerns and worries, as well as the ways in which health-care providers respond to these cues (e.g., offer premature reassurance, change the subject, interrupt, or simply ignore them). These research studies have built on a strong literature base that includes both qualitative analysis and the use of coding systems (such as VR-CoDES and RIAS) to describe patient concerns and doctors’ responses.
Physicians are also obligated to provide patients with the information they need for informed consent. If a doctor fails to disclose all the facts about a patient’s diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis, that doctor could be sued for medical malpractice.
For example, if a doctor doesn’t disclose that they have lost their hospital privileges and can no longer admit patients for tests or surgery, the patient might not receive all the treatment options that would otherwise be available. This could lead to serious health consequences. The problem is that many doctors don’t consider this information part of their duty of care, and they might even lie about it in an effort to keep patients happy.
One way to help physicians become better communicators is to teach them how to be more empathetic. But some physicians are resistant to this idea, especially older ones who are used to the way they’re supposed to practice medicine.
Younger doctors, on the other hand, are more likely to have had communication training during medical school and residency. And some doctors get coaching to improve their skills, such as by shadowing other physicians and role-playing with them.
There are also a variety of workshops and other initiatives to promote physician empathy. For instance, some doctors might attend a workshop on emotional problem-solving or practice meditating. Whether a doctor chooses to seek out this kind of learning opportunities or not, the fact is that doctors who are empathetic communicate more effectively with their patients and have better relationships with them.
Doctors Are Trained to Ask Questions
The most important part of medical education is learning to ask questions, something true in both medicine and law. As a result, doctors are taught that it is their responsibility to question patients about their symptoms and history in order to provide them with the best possible care.
Doctors are also trained to listen closely to patients’ answers and to understand the context in which they were provided. This is crucial in understanding the patient’s perspective and ensuring that all concerns are heard.
Despite this training, many doctors still find it challenging to communicate openly with their patients and may feel that they are unable to voice their opinions or disagree with their colleagues. As a result, the doctor-patient relationship can become adversarial and distant.
Many people leave a doctor’s office feeling as if they didn’t get all the information that they needed. This can be frustrating, especially for someone who is struggling with a serious illness. It’s important to bring a list of questions to your appointments so that you can make sure you cover all of your bases. However, be careful not to overload your doctor with too many questions, as this can lead to rushed answers and frustration.
If you feel that your doctor is not listening to you, try rephrasing your concerns in a different way. It’s also helpful to repeat back to your doctor what you have understood them to say in order to ensure that they are on the same page as you.
It’s important to remember that your doctor has undergone years of education, testing, and training to be able to help you. Despite this, mistakes can happen. If a doctor hides a mistake or tries to blame it on something else, they can be sued for malpractice.
It’s also important to note that your doctor has a duty to keep your private information confidential. If you suspect that your doctor has violated this duty by revealing your private medical information to the media, it is important to contact a lawyer right away. This type of breach can be devastating to a patient, and can cause them financial harm, emotional distress, and even physical harm.
Doctors Are Trained to Listen
Many doctors, especially those who have been in practice for a while, are skilled at picking up cues from their patients. They are able to read body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal expressions that can give them clues as to the underlying problems a patient may be experiencing. Additionally, doctors are well trained to ask probing questions and listen carefully to a patient’s responses.
However, despite their best efforts, many doctors are still prone to certain biases and tendencies. One of the most common is the tendency to tune out a patient’s story and instead focus on specific symptoms. This often leads to a doctor over-testing and over-treating a patient. In addition, many physicians have a prejudged bias against certain groups of people. This can result in medical errors, such as a missed diagnosis or delayed treatment of a serious illness.
When a patient doesn’t feel like their doctor is listening to them, they may resort to passive aggressive techniques to try to get the attention of the physician. This can include meandering into off-topic conversations, using jargon that is difficult for a physician to understand, or not asking follow-up questions.
Fortunately, there are ways that a patient can improve their communication with their physician and encourage them to take their concerns seriously. The first step is to be honest and provide accurate information. For example, if a patient is not being completely truthful about their lifestyle, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, it could affect the doctor’s ability to accurately diagnose them.
In addition, a patient can try to give their doctor open-ended answers rather than yes or no questions. This will allow the physician to get a better sense of a patient’s background and history, which can lead to a more thorough diagnosis.
Finally, a patient can also try to get their doctor’s attention by adding personal elements to their answers. For example, when asked how long you have been feeling tired, don’t just say two weeks; instead, mention that you are normally very energetic and run five miles a day and that you’ve been sleeping a lot lately. This will help your doctor understand that you aren’t just faking your symptoms.
Doctors Are Trained to Read Body Language
A doctor’s non-verbal communication shapes patient interactions in a myriad of ways. A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management notes that physicians’ body language influences the patient’s rapport with the physician, their ability to trust doctors, their willingness to adhere to a plan of care and their satisfaction with their medical experience. In addition to what is being said, body language – also known as “proxemics” – includes postures, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact.
Positive body language is one of the best ways for a physician to establish rapport with their patients. For example, by facing the patient and having their arms by their sides rather than crossed on their chest, a physician can convey openness and receptivity. Similarly, nodding during a conversation can signal that you are in agreement with what is being said and that you are engaged in the interview.
Conversely, negative body language can convey a sense of defensiveness and a lack of interest in the patient’s concerns. If a physician backs away from their patient while they are speaking, this can indicate that they do not trust the patient and may feel like they are being judged. Additionally, cross-eyed stares can be perceived as a sign of nervousness or distrust.
In general, it is best for a doctor to be as consistent as possible with their verbal and non-verbal communication. If the two are inconsistent or contradictory, the non-verbal cues will generally override the verbal message. This explains why patients do not believe reassuring verbal messages from doctors that are accompanied by defensive body language and hesitation in their vocal delivery.
The face offers a wealth of information, and it is important that a physician be aware of the slightest movements in order to read the emotions that they are communicating to their patient. The smallest facial expressions can reveal approval, disapproval, happiness, fear, or disgust. In fact, there is a small cottage industry of experts who claim to be able to read a politician’s facial expressions after a debate or diplomatic meeting.