Doctor Becomes Patient

Abstract

The author’s heart attack in his early 40s, when working as a rural general practitioner (GP) in the National Health Service (NHS). The author’s career journey: from his medical school training, working as a rural GP for the NHS, his transition to specialist training, and work as an occupational physician. The experience of doctors as patients: first from the author’s personal perspective, but also the tricky matter of treating a fellow doctor. The implications of doctors as patients. The problem of middle-aged men as patients: poor health-seeking behaviour and poor compliance. Sudden death in a patient. The author’s new focus on health and prevention, not disease and treatment. Paternalism in the doctor–patient relationship. Patients or clients? The autocratic doctor, and the concept of patient-centred care. What do patients want from their doctors? The concept of working in partnership with patients.