Dealing with the irritating patient

Remember

• The medical consultation is just like any other human interaction, and as a result it is to be expected that difficulties will arise at times.
• The irritating patient, difficult patient, heartsick patient or hated patient can become the bane of our lives as doctors.
• There is no universal irritating patient. As is often seen in group practice, a particular patient may be difficult for one doctor but not for another. This says much about personality and training differences between doctors.