So, let’s talk about the doctor-patient relationship…
Even in the year 2023, despite the advancements in the field of medicine, many people still just can’t trust doctors. And I have to admit, most of the reasons for that are on us.
And just a couple of weeks ago, while attending different conferences, my mind was blown by the sheer amount of people who said that they made a pivot in their life based on a direction from a doctor. Hearing people say “I don’t trust this guy”, “I don’t trust what he’s telling me”, and “I kept persevering despite what a doctor told me” hit me like a punch in the gut.
So join me for today’s Medicine Mondays, as I talk about some of the reasons that I think people don’t trust doctors while giving some of my rationale behind it
Why you need to check out this episode:
- Find out why you should never take information from the internet as an alternative to a healthcare professional’s advice;
- Understand why acknowledging the long history between medicine and African-American people is crucial in regaining their trust in the healthcare system;
- Understand the importance of clear and proper communication, and why it is the doctor who should always adjust the doctor-patient relationship
“The patient isn’t the one who should have to adjust in the doctor-patient relationship. It should be the doctor who has to adjust.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
Topics Covered:
00:00 – On this week’s episode: The different things that make people start saying “I don’t trust that doctor”
01:28 – Internet misinformation: How the accessibility of information leads people away from those in the professional business
03:06 – Negative media bias: How being on the frontline of a lot of negative media attention associated with healthcare damages the overall trust of people in doctors
04:26 – Lack of face time: How the lack of personal interaction changed the way doctors take care of their patients
06:20 – Political Influence: The effects of politics on doctors’ recommendations, and the difference it makes in how they take care of their patients
07:55 – Physicians’ online behavior: How some physicians’ behavior on social media put doctors in a lot of negative light
09:23 – Historical reasons: Why minority patients, especially African-American patients still do not trust the healthcare system
11:58 – Lack of representation: How the lack of representation makes it more difficult for minorities to trust their doctors
15:24 – We don’t know how to communicate: How the doctors’ inability to properly communicate with their patients damaged the doctor-patient relationship for a very long time
18:45 – Third parties: How the “middlemen” industries stop the doctors from being able of taking care of their patients, and how they allow the blame to be put on the doctors instead of them
Notable Quotes:
“Because information is accessible to everyone, and is free for the most part, you can have an instance where misinformation will lead you away from those in the professional business.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“Unfortunately, doctors have been put on the front line of a lot of negative media attention associated with healthcare. And unfortunately, it’s something that hasn’t seemed to improve or hasn’t seemed to change, if you ask me.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“I understand that if your political influence can influence you to act a certain way outside of medicine, best believe – and even though I know that doctors will try to tell you that they are doing a great job – that that political influence is going to impact how they take care of the patients in front of them.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“We got some historical baggage that we still have to unload. And I don’t want people to forget it… I don’t want people to act like it never happened. It was the foundation of medicine to treat minorities – especially black patients – badly and wrong.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“If you keep a patient who has the same race or same gender, they’re more likely to trust their healthcare professional.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
Let’s Connect:
Please SUBSCRIBE for new videos every Monday afternoon and Thursday Evening
