The New York Times Well blog had a guest column today exploring the potential problems and pressures when a patient is a VIP. A VIP patient may cause a physician to second guess their course of treatment or a VIP may insist on a treatment that the physician knows may cause harm. But if a physician fears losing the prestige or the monetary benefit of having a VIP patient, that fear may cloud the physician's sound medical judgement.
From a communication perspective, it demonstrates how extreme power imbalance in a relationship impairs effective and honest communication. When physicians hold all the power, patients have trouble finding this voice. When patients have the power in the relationship, physicians have the some trouble.
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The 'VIP' syndrome is real. I will make reference to it on tomorrow's post at www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com.
I'm also interested in doctor-patient communication issues.
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