Is it necessary for a doctor who is a patient to tell the doctor who examines him about his work?
This is still a question of spirited debate among doctors since everyone has a different perspective and experience. It would be fascinating to delve more into this topic in order to understand the benefits and drawbacks of a doctor knowing that his patient is also a doctor.
Examiner’s Perspective
Let’s start with the perspective of the examining doctor.
Most examining physicians anticipate their patients to disclose this information so they can communicate in more professional terms, making their work simpler than explaining it to a complete layperson. Providing information in medical terms can help cut down on explanation and time.
Furthermore, there are instances when the examining doctor is younger or more junior than the doctor who is the patient. And most information regarding the patient’s job is only available once the examination and information provision is completed. When they learn of this, doctors who are more junior or still in education will be embarrassed and suspicious, wondering if there was an error made during the test or if the information presented was incorrect. Junior doctors could be better equipped to deliver information if they recognized this truth sooner.
Doctor’s Perspective as Patient
When discussing the patient’s viewpoint, some report they are reluctant to reveal work information to the examining doctor.
When a doctor finds that his patient is also a doctor, they believe it impacts the care they receive. Some criticize the therapy and care because the information presented feels like a case discussion between fellow doctors with no empathy and merely delivering facts and statistics without considering the patient’s psychological situation.
Others claim that doctors understand medical language differently and that nonuniversal medical abbreviations exacerbate the problem. When a doctor gives information, he assumes that his patient, who is also a doctor, understands all he says. Doctors who become patients may be hesitant to ask questions in a foreign language because they are ashamed and feel awful if they do not grasp the answer. According to another viewpoint, people are hesitant to state their occupation for fear of being labeled arrogant or anticipating special privileges.
There is, of course, a good side to disclosing a doctor’s name in addition to the bad aspects mentioned above. Patients receive better treatment and care when all medical staff who treat them are aware of their status, as opposed to when they are unaware. They may receive preferential treatment, such as shorter wait times, a more private/nice room, and superior and dedicated service.
Tell or Not to Tell?
According to Charlotte Blease, Ph.D., a medical ethicist, it is appropriate for doctors who are patients to notify the examining doctor about their work status. This can improve the clarity and transparency of communication. It is advantageous if medical terminology can bridge the patient’s comprehension of the ailment and decision-making. Every doctor must constantly do their best to communicate effectively with all patients with different levels of education, so there is no need to keep the medical profession secret in this regard.
Some doctors advise doctors who become patients to be open and honest about their work. If something is unclear, the patient should not be embarrassed to ask the examining doctor for an explanation because it is the patient’s right to be fully informed. Doctors who become patients are, of course, approached for advice from someone more trained and experienced, even if they are also knowledgeable about the disease.
It’s vital to note that a doctor must inquire about the patient’s entire identity, including the type of employment, before proceeding to anamnesis of the disease and others. It will be easy for the doctor in the patient’s position to claim to be a doctor due to this. It is difficult for the patient to offer an introduction regarding his profession if this question is not asked. If the examining doctor forgets to ask this question, the patient might advise by purposefully introducing medical terminology into the dialogue. Some people believe that this is preferable to expressing it directly.
There are no particular guidelines on whether a doctor who becomes a patient must furnish the examining doctor with work information. It all comes down to the patient’s own choices and comfort. One thing is practically certain: every doctor will, at some moment, find themselves in the patient’s position.
Material on how a doctor may deliver appropriate explanations and treatment to other doctors, which is rarely mentioned in college, is an essential thing that needs to be introduced to the world of medical education. Certain doctors recommend having a medical talk about it and reviewing some literature and study findings to see if exposing a doctor’s work status is preferable to keeping it hidden.
Reference
- Should You Tell Your Doctor That You’re a Doctor? Available at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/962591#vp_1. (Accessed: 20 June 2020).
