to wonder why consultants comment on people's personalities?

I have this on good authority from a retired consultant: "pleasant" is code for "basically normal, we had a normal interaction, unlikely to flip tables/assault you/verbally abusive clinic staff." I guess they see all sorts. Its considered old fashioned nowadays so its omission isn't necessarily a warning, but it used to be.

My allergic cat has "this adorable female juvenile" on her notes, which makes me laugh, because she is both adorable and a bit of a juvenile delinquent, so it suits her. She's doing great now but she was scratching herself raw when I first rescued her, she's allergic to multiple common proteins used in cat food.

Despite making an effort to dress nicely/groom well, doctors usually describe me as 'unkempt'.

Yes, the letter to my doctor from the consultant began…
‘I have reviewed this very pleasant lady who was accompanied by her equally pleasant husband in my office today…’
I have no issue with it, and I don’t see why anyone else would.

Same. Or “be aware of potential Munchausen by proxy”. 😆. Which I used to be worried about being accused of when advocating for dd.

I just finished up a day seeing a lot of people in an outpatient clinic. I do not go in for descriptions of pleasant or anything like that. I just say I saw x on y date in z clinic and then launch into what they came for, my impression and the plan. I think that's seen as a bit old school these days and I don't see it done much any longer in my field.

Sometimes I do want to convey that the consultation was difficult. To be honest I usually just say that if it was. I mean it's hardly likely they won't have realised. Or I say we 'had an extensive/ animated discussion about...' or 'I suggested x and he disagreed'

I don't see the need to make vague comments about people being pleasant or them being married If it's diagnostically relevant that they were rude or confrontational (or indeed anxious or tearful) I'd probably say so. But I'm a psychiatrist so that kind of conversation is expected.

I once queried a treatment plan, politely, because I had looked into my options and found that the NHS doesn't always give you full options but the cheapest ones.

I was described as "an interesting, well informed and vocal girl".

I was 27. So hardly a girl, as for vocal, I dared ask a legitimate question politely.

Tosser.

And therein lies the problem. What if the 'anxious' patient is actually asking Qu's or wants a 2nd opinion and turns out to be correct? Then that patient has code for 'PITA' on their notes for the next HCP who will view them through that lens.

Unless you are being seen by Psych then the bare facts should be recorded: ie, f, 64, presents with X, m 22, presents with y. Not how 'amenable' they are.

Utter rubbish, not judgemental, simply honest, which is very much lacking on occasion where most things have to be sugar coated. The medical profession are tip toeing around patients and dealing with some very difficult individuals, and if they can give the heads up about a patient’s personality and behaviour in this way I say fair play to them.

My GP always writes in my referral letters that not only am I a healthcare professional but I lecture anatomy and physiology at the university. I think he’s giving the consultants a heads up not to fob me off. 😂

My neurologist referred to me in his opening line as ‘I met with this XX years old right-handed patient you referred ’.
Definitely didn’t call me pleasant despite my efforts to be polite! 😁

I was cross when my clothing was part of a report !

I was described as "casually dressed" , wnen I was wearing an expensive trouser suit.

I didn't say customer service, but it is customer/ client facing. Solicitors don't mention my articulate client, my pleasant client, nor do accountants or architects or banks or insurance brokers etc. All of which have to deal with potentially difficult clients and all who need to adapt their manner accordingly. Only doctors feel the need to pass comment, like their 2 minute meeting with you is also a full assessment of your character. Its very arrogant

What a shite of a man! Your arse comment me chuckle though @NeverDropYourMooncup

😂

I bet these descriptors are used far more frequently for women patients than men. I actually really dislike the use of words like ‘pleasant’ in this context.

I've usually been described as 'articulate' 'well informed' or 'delightful' when I've given a consultant a hard time about something. To be fair, I'm always extremely polite when I'm arguing/questioning the reason for something.

The one I really pissed off because I'd explained why exactly I thought I had something wrong with me (the lifelong medical conditions, treatments, medications and formal diagnosis from a particular consultant known to be an expert in the field was my clue) made a point of saying 'this obese woman'. Mate, I've come to you because I've got a ganglion on my wrist that really hurts because it's massive and compressing the nerves. I'm not asking you to operate on my arse.

Other customer based industries don't do this (or do they?)

Healthcare isn't a customer service industry.

They often say nice things about my mum. They never ever do about me, it's always just 'this lady/woman'. I'd be glad if they said I was very pleasant!

I am a lawyer who deals with a lot of disability matters so I see a lot of medical letters.

In my experience anyone who is not described as pleasant is usually a deeply unpleasant client. The presence of the word ‘pleasant’ is meaningless, it is the absence of the word that speaks volumes.

There really is no need to mask this way so please don’t feel like you have to.

And I have never used those silly mnemonics and codes when writing or speaking to colleagues. I don’t believe anyone does? I see them as urban myths perpetuated by immature students at medical school. Consultants should not be behaving like this.

Really, doctors are not as special as many think they are. They are trained professionals doing the job that they are paid to do. You don’t need to dress up for them at all.

I have been described as "pleasant" on several communications, I think it is shorthand for reasonable and not likely to kick off! Years ago when I was under the care of the local mental health team I saw that I had been described as "charming and attractive", this was back in the early 90's, doubt they would do this now

That's shocking (the good looking bit ). I would be speaking to a colleague if I saw they had written that in a letter.

I'm a consultant. It used to be taught as a very standard way of writing clinic letters to open with a descriptor of the pt as pleasant/lovely/charming/delightful similar, and the absence of such a descriptor meant the patient was difficult/unpleasant. I always smile a little inside when I hear people say proudly "he said I was a lovely lady" when I know that it's the start of everyone's letter.

I suspect there is also a little bit of wanting the patient to feel well disposed towards the doctor, so less likely to make a complaint.

I choose not to use it, as I think it's either used as a judgemental description by it's presence or absence, or it's a completely meaningless thing because they say it to everyone. I like a compliment as much as most, but only if it's actually meant.

I don't type as you talk but am pretty good at remembering what was said.

Am sure you have similar skills in your job that come easily to you but are a mystery to others.