Some patients’ expectations are just too great
My grandson Nathan, aged two and a half, had a recent interaction with a medico — in this case, a vet. This interaction has helped me…
Tag: Communication
The bad words doctors use – and what we should say instead
I was in love with my teacher Ms H. And when I told her not to be a bitch, all hell broke loose, and there…
What sort of doctor have I become?
Many years ago, while hosting the annual dinner of the Medico-Legal Society of NSW, the guest speaker, who was a professional comedian, asked me what…
A call from AHPRA made me value my patients even more
My most treasured possessions are relationships. And I advise all of you to write down snippets of the wonderful interactions you’ve had with your patients,…
GP rapped for ‘shouting match’ with patient loses appeal
The doctor argued the Medical Board of Australia's sanctions effectively affirmed aggressive patient behaviour: Victorian tribunal.
Tough to imagine, but GPs can learn a lot from an SAS officer
Recently, I went to a talk given by Ant Middleton, the former SAS officer who has become famous through his role on TV shows SAS –…
Quiz – How should you deal with a serial complainant?
You receive a letter of complaint after performing a cervical screening test on a patient who claims she suffered pain. How should you proceed?
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Why you should never point out the nail in a patient’s head
There’s a YouTube video that’s been doing the rounds for a while, where a woman is complaining to her partner that she is feeling unwell…
Why learning to lie made me a better doctor
When I became a head of department many years ago, a very distinguished doctor visited me and said he was to give me one, and…
Dear hospitals, a communication that doesn’t communicate isn’t a communication
This is a plea to emergency and outpatient departments to take a long, hard look at how you communicate with GPs because it’s not getting…
