DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
 The physician-patient relationship will
suffer if there was no clear diagnosis.
The patient may question the
physician’s ability and skill and
therefore the patient’s trust to the
physician will be diminished.
 it would be frustrating for the doctor
because it is the wish of every doctor to
solve the medical problem of the
patients.
COMPLICATIONS DURING SURGERY
there must be a stronger relationship with
 patients who have mental illness,
depression, stress or anxiety
 patients with alcohol and drug problems
 patients who repeatedly demand
unnecessary medical certificates or
medical notes
SPECIALTY OF PHYSICIAN
 specialty of the physician also affects
the physician-patient relationship
 the relationship of an ENT specialist is
more likely to be a partnership
compared to other surgical specialties
where more life-threatening condition is
being faced by the surgeon
 other specialties could have a more
directive role
 the physician-patient relationship is
closer among general practice
physicians where the doctor could give
detailed knowledge of the whole family
because general practitioners have
longer term relationship with their
patients because they see their patients
regularly over a long period of time
 long-term relationship will allow the
general physician to have a greater
continuity of care in contrast with
specialists that are hospital-based who
see their patients for a short time
because there are many doctors who
take care of them during the course of
treatment
 patients would open up more with the
general practitioner and will disclose
more information than they would to a
surgeon
 Relationship is much closer in
psychiatry compared to a surgeon or an
emergency medicine doctor where the
primary focus is the immediate medical
or surgical problem of the patient
TIME
 the amount of time that is available
within a consultation is seen as a key
factor affecting the consultation
 two elements
o time pressure on the
consultation
o impact of the clinic opening late
 short time available within the
consultation it seen to restrict the
discussion between the physician and
the patient
 physicians do not have enough time to
fully explain the diagnosis or to discuss
the different treatment options
 lack of time within the consultation will
be a direct barrier to a good physician-
patient relationship
 partnership model of the physician-
patient relationship is not always
positive if there is limited time in the
consultation
 time pressure is seen as forcing a
paternalistic relationship. it is seen as
more directive role from the physician,
and it would mean a shorter consultation
time
 consultations that overrun or overtime
have implications for the patients who
are waiting for their turn to see the
doctor