Patients Could Polish Their Bedside Manner, Docs Say

Odds are you're annoying your doctor, according to a Canadian study that asked nearly 300 physicians about their daily frustrations. As the Globe and Mail reports, many had difficulty establishing rapports with patients, who routinely resisted or flouted their advice —which can lead to patient safety problems. “When you have patients that can't communicate, there's going to be a big issue,” said one of the study’s authors.

Doctors were annoyed that patients often self-diagnose online, and then reject physician diagnoses. Others don’t divulge that they’ve used alternative therapies, which can lead to dangerous interactions. “In the modern economy we have the Internet and peer pressure, so there are all kinds of influences,” said another study author. “There’s a safety implication.” (More doctor stories.)