Singapore M.D.: Confidence Goods 15 - 0 views
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Mr Lee Seck Kay believes that"... doctors need to care about their looks; never mind if they are not handsome, but at least they should not give the impression that they are lackadaisical. It is a moral responsibility that many doctors tend to neglect, much to their detriment." (emphasis mine)Mr Anthony Goh's contribution is:"The doctor's personality and the way he conducts himself speak better than looks."Mr Javern Sim shares his experience and wisdom thus:"I have occasionally come across doctors who are more interested in getting thediagnosis and prescription of medicine over and done with, rather thancommunicating properly with their patients.It is imperative for doctors to be skilful not only on the treatment table, but also in terms of patient management and communication."
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I would have thought that making the correct diagnosis and prescribing the appropriate medicine and letting the patient know the two constituted patient management and communication.
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Why do the writers seem more hung up on how the doctors look or conduct themselves than on the quality of the medical care or advice, as if the clinical encounter was more a date than a consultation? My suspicion is that lacking the means or inclination to assess the quality of care, patients instead base their judgement of a doctor on things they can assess. It's a natural thing to do - it makes us feel we have control over the situation - but then how a doctor looks or behaves towards you may have very little correlation with the quality of care he provides. If patients choose to judge doctors on style than substance, then perhaps that what they will get.The irony, of course, is that doctors too sometimes judge patients by their appearances...