What's in a name?

Abstract

As a patient I have been quite taken aback that whenever I’ve seen doctors recently they have called me by my first name while introducing themselves by their title and surname. I find it distinctly unhelpful in my interaction with another adult to be addressed like a child by their teacher when the experience of illness is already making me feel unsettled, vulnerable, and anxious.1 Whenever I have raised this matter of unequal address during a consultation, it has been met with surprise and the mention of wanting to make me feel at ease. In Germany it would be unthinkable for a doctor to introduce himself as Dr Schmidt while summoning a patient from the waiting room by calling out “Helmut” or “Angela.” I am curious as to whether there have been any recent guidelines to encourage this practice in Britain, why it seems to be the norm, and why do so few people question, let alone challenge, it? This is occurring at the same time as there is so much talked and written about patients’ dignity, the doctor-patient partnership, respect, and empowerment.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• Stockport College GB

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