Overview

Practicing medicine involves more than acquiring an adequate fund of knowledge and securing the clinical skills essential to healing the infirm. It usually mandates an intense interaction between two human beings, the physician, a professional healer, and the patient, a lay-person. Success for both parties is in part determined by the nature of the interaction between them. Consequently, the healing process clearly extends well beyond the borders of science. Thus, having a solid grasp of the art of medicine can facilitate and at times be decisive in achieving a favorable outcome. This chapter will focus on the importance of the physician–patient interaction and desirable approaches to enhancing this relationship.

Experience has shown that the success of a treatment plan is significantly influenced by the nature and quality of the physician's interaction with their patient. Most of the intimate medical consequences of life are the result of the decisions and actions taken by patients. Making patients aware of this empowers them to recognize the possibility of achieving positive results based on clear and reliable therapeutic guidelines and their careful and consistent compliance. This is best carried out in the context of a favorable psychological ambience.

By having a favorable physician–patient relationship, treatment plans can be formulated that have an increased chance of being effective. This will facilitate the patient's desire to implement faithfully their responsibilities. In addition, a positive relationship reduces the risk of the practitioner being subjected to malpractice suits.