MISTAKES My Patients Made: It’s not what you think

Readers need to be able to look at the “facts” of their behavior that came into question and the assumptions that were made by their provider in order to provide the best care. This then becomes a central part of how they will create a health management plan to develop new responses and strategies in order to better take care of their health.

Healthcare professionals engage with patients at an intimate level. This intimacy, whether it be physical, emotional, or cognitive, has a degree of risk. As professionals, there is a risk of being misunderstood by one’s patients, or of not understanding one’s patients, and of exposing one’s own vulnerabilities. Being a healthcare professional sometimes glosses over the fact that we are all human and may not have clearly delivered our messages to our patients. However, readers should understand that it is not just your doctor who is responsible for your health; YOU also have a responsibility for your own health.