The “Difficult” Patient: It’s Time to Replace the D-Word

thepremedpatient:

I hear the phrase a lot from doctors, physician bloggers, surgeons, nurses, fellow patients and loved ones; being labeled the “difficult patient” because of a chronic or complicated illness.

I’ve heard “the difficult patient” referred to as a lot of things: the patient with a nasty attitude; the patient who refuses treatment or refuses to take care of their body; the patient with a complicated family situation; the patient with a terminal/complicated disease pattern; the patient whose disease remains a mystery; the patient who can’t give a straight answer; the patient who has a chronic illness.

Most of those definitions I understand. But it’s the phrase I have an issue with when it comes to being the chronically ill patient.

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My latest article on my sister-blog, The Pre-Med Patient. Read & Follow if you don’t already. It’s definitely relevant to all of you :)

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