Truthful discussions are key to effective treatment

Sacramento Bee, January 7, 2008

The doctor-patient relationship is a social dance that, at its core, is driven by a sick person feeling dependent, vulnerable and wanting to be liked by the doctor. The more worried a patient is about his or her health, the more exaggerated the dance--often to the detriment of the patient's health. Yet, doctors also need to be liked, so how do you find a common ground?