- Journal List
- J Med Ethics
- v.14(3); 1988 Sep
- PMC1375733
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PMCID: PMC1375733
PMID: 3184132
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See letter "What doctors should call their patients." in volume 16 onpage55.
Abstract
The paper discusses the moral difficulties physicians encounter when determining the level of formality they will use when addressing their patients. It is argued that physicians ought not to use a patient's first name unless the patient also uses the physician's first name. In short, physicians and patients should always address each other with the same level of formality. It is argued that this is so even when patients invite physicians to address them informally.
Full text
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Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Dunn JJ, Lee TH, Percelay JM, Fitz JG, Goldman L. Patient and house officer attitudes on physician attire and etiquette. JAMA. 1987 Jan 2;257(1):65–68. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Senger HL. First name or last? Addressing the patient in psychotherapy. Compr Psychiatry. 1984 Jan-Feb;25(1):38–43. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Articles from Journal of Medical Ethics are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group
