The doctor-patient relationship - Anaesthetics Specialty Training Program

Despite the image often jokingly portraying anaesthetists as doctors who would rather have their patient asleep than talking, anaesthetists often have important patient interactions. The doctor patient relationship is generally limited to the pre-operative assessment and period of peri-operative care. This can often be a stressful time for patients, and as the last doctor they are likely to see before undergoing surgery, anaesthetists often play a significant role in managing pain and anxiety at this time. In busy hospitals or even private practices the pre-admission clinic acts not only to improve the safety of anaesthesia, but also provides patients with a further opportunity to discuss their condition with a medical practitioner. A large number of patients often mention and remember their pre-admission consultation when discussing their operation. There are numerous situations in which patients appreciate the efforts of their anaesthetist. Many women, for example remember and are very grateful for their anaesthetist’s efforts during labour. Nonetheless, when an operation or procedure is run smoothly it is often the surgeon or proceduralist who gets the recognition. An experienced anaesthetist realises this reaction is often testament to their ability to complete their job safely and effectively. As with other referral based specialties such as radiology, their role is rarely fully comprehended by patients or public.

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