106 Becoming a Patient
Yet far more commonly, these physicians became aware of the ubiq-
uity of poor interactions. Sadly, inadequate doctor-patient discourse ap-
peared far more to be the norm. Tom, whose lover died of AIDS, said,
‘‘I hear it all the time from patients: ‘I went to a doctor, and he didn’t talk
to me.’ ’’
Challenges arose concerning both the form and the content of com-
munication. Doctors were often rushed, lacking time to answer patients’
questions and, through verbal and nonverbal gestures, stymied potential
discourse. Albert, who had an MI on the highway, saw an impediment in
that doctors didn’t sit down, but stood up during interactions at patients’
bedsides.
As a physician, I always sit now if there is a chair in the room.
Standing at the foot of the bed talking to a