What is Doctor-patient relationship?
[[File:Blood test (1).jpg|thumb|The [[medical doctor]], with a [[nurse]] by his side, is performing a [[blood]] test at a [[hospital]] in 1980]] The [[wikt:relationship|relationship]] between a [[Medical doctor|doctor]] and a [[patient]] is a very important part of [[medicine]]. Only when there is a good relationship between the two is it possible to have high-quality [[healthcare]]. This relationship is also at the base of [[medical ethics]]. Many medical schools teach the doctors to be to keep a professional relationship with their patients, to respect the patients' [[dignity]] and [[privacy]]. This relationship has asymmetric information though. The doctor knows more than the patient, but has to explain the patient's situation, and has to ask the patient what [[treatment]]s should be done. There is a very similar relationship between the patient and [[nurse]]s, [[psychologist]]s. There are different [[law|legal]] [[norm]]s that regulate this relationship. Examples of such norms are the [[Hippocratic oath]], the [[Declaration of Geneva]]. [[Professional responsibility]] may also govern such a relationship. Ideally, patient and doctor trust each other. If they do, this can have a positive influence on the development of [[disease]] or condition. Healing can be hindered if the patient does not take the [[prescription|prescribed]] [[drug]]s, of if these drugs are not taken in the doses prescribed. If the relationship is too good this can preclude efficiency. In certain cases, it may be good to get the opinion of a second doctor, regarding a condition. ==Other websites== * {{cite journal |author=Alexander GC, Casalino LP, Meltzer DO |title=Patient-physician communication about out-of-pocket costs |journal=JAMA |volume=290 |issue=7 |pages=953–8 |date=August 2003 |pmid=12928475 |doi=10.1001/jama.290.7.953 |s2cid=43568685 |url=}} ==Related pages== * [[Health care]] * [[Universal health care]] [[Category:Medicine]] [[Category:Relationships]]