Comments on: When a doctor talks too much http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/when-doctor-talks-too-much.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/when-doctor-talks-too-much.html#comment-88281 Anonymous Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:34:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/when-a-doctor-talks-too-much.html#comment-88281 It is an understandable problem. You are tired, no one is listening at home, and you have a captive audience.<br/><br/>The key is exercising the discipline to make sure that you only disclose after asking yourself if this is going to help the patient, then make the specific disclosure that you think will do so and in the same breath tie it right back to the patient's concern. It isn't that there should never be any disclosure, but that it shouldn't be made because for the doctors.<br/><br/>It helps to keep a personal support system where you make sure your emotional needs get met elsewhere--perhaps a personal psychotherapist or a medical colleague that you have a weekly lunch or golf date with. Even is "good enough" marriages, spouses usually don't cut it. It is an understandable problem. You are tired, no one is listening at home, and you have a captive audience.

The key is exercising the discipline to make sure that you only disclose after asking yourself if this is going to help the patient, then make the specific disclosure that you think will do so and in the same breath tie it right back to the patient’s concern. It isn’t that there should never be any disclosure, but that it shouldn’t be made because for the doctors.

It helps to keep a personal support system where you make sure your emotional needs get met elsewhere–perhaps a personal psychotherapist or a medical colleague that you have a weekly lunch or golf date with. Even is “good enough” marriages, spouses usually don’t cut it.

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