A good doctor is one that has a doctor-patient relationship such that the patient feels comfortable whilst staying in hospital. To promote this type of relationship a doctor must have good communication skills. The significance of this ability is emphasized by the B.M.C dictating that the the "duties" of a doctor are to "....listen to patients and give information to patients in a way they can understand." The importance of good communication skills is two fold. Firstly, it is necessary for a doctor when trying to make a diagnosis to be able to extract information a

Another characteristic needed by a doctor to maintain a good doctor-patient relationship is (as the B.M.C states ) "to act in a polite and considerate manner." This might seem like an obvious attribute and one that would be easy to accommodate by both good and bad doctors. However the distinction between the two types of doctor becomes clearer when dealing with a difficult patient. An example of a difficult patient was illustrated on one ward visit with a patient who had been confined in isolation because he had contracted M.R.A.S ( an illness contracted from stating in the hospital). Due to the irony of the situation the patient was clearly frustrated and orally abusive to both doctors and patients. It is easy for a doctor to reflect back some of the hostile by a decrease in the level of care he or she provides for the patient. However, a good doctor must be able to feel empathy for the patient and so try to understand the frustration felt by the patient. Under no situation should a doctor decrease the level of care he or she is providing.

bout the patients' injuries or illness and their clinical history. The importance of this listening ability is closely related to a doctor's clinical competency and is discussed later.

However, it should be noted that taking time to explain medical conditions and treatments to patients is becoming increasingly more difficult and time exhausting. This is because the public has become more aware of medical conditions and developments in medicine

Some common words found in the essay are:
Medical Council, communication skills, , doctor-patient relationship, doctor able, ward visit, feel empathy patient, doctor communication skills, decrease level care, empathy patient, difficult patient, knowing limits, feel empathy, patient example, clinical competence,
Approximate Word count = 1013
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)