The BMJ Editor’s column this week asks what readers think is the role of the doctor –
In his report into specialist training in the UK, John Tooke asks, “What is the role of the doctor?” The answer may be too various for a single coherent answer. So much depends on context—the clinical setting, the patient’s preferences, the doctor’s experience and seniority. But is there an irreducible core to the doctor’s role, regardless of the context? Tooke calls for a debate that will redefine the doctor’s role.
They point out that this is an important question for three reasons – first the role makes clear what attributes a doctor should have; second because it will set the standards against which their performance is judged; and third it affects the way we design health care.
I’m only just beginning to think this through, but I’d appreciate your own views – what do you see as the doctor’s role? what do expect the doctor to do? and what attributes do you think are important?
Heroes Not Zombies 
that is really a lot to chew on. If I had to answer those questions on the fly, just my immediate thought on it, I’d say that a doctor should be a person who genuinely cares about the well being of others, and their role is to guide people toward better health in their times of need. I expect a doctor to listen to my complaints and my unique situation with the open mind about how I feel. A really good attribute is that a doctor not take too lightly how I say I feel when there are pains or problems, because it’s not as if I would want to go pay for a doctor’s visit just to BS about how I feel. But to be honest, I also feel like going to one doctor is not enough generally, because I would rather pull on the knowledge of multiple sources before feeling like I came to the right answer. All too often there are doctors out there who prescribe things due to their kickbacks, or egotistically want patients to need them, keeping people uneducated about their health situations. Probably the best thing that can happen between a doctor/patient relationship is to have a friendship and trust in place. That would solve a lot of problems, just to have more care involved.
Great answer, Ester. Thanks. I agree with all of that. You’re so right about the trust and caring. And also about the listening and respect for you. But you know I think you make a particularly interesting point when you say that one doctor is not enough. I know that when I worked in a partnership of four doctors we each had our different skills, personalities and enthusiasms and patients were very very good at seeking out the the doctor who they felt would best deal with a particular problem. Sure most would stick with the one doctor who they’d build up a good relationship but others would see different doctors for different types of problems. It’s like in nature, diversity is healthier than a bunch of clones.
[…] of medicine, and people who have no experience of it, probably don’t understand it. To be a good doctor though I think involves making use of the whole self – the brain and the heart – understanding how […]