I am a "very pleasant lady"

[HauntedBungalow]

... according to the consultant who wrote to my GP following an appointment. It says so on the first line of the letter.

I was feeling quite chuffed about this but when I told my cynical piss taking 21 yo son he said it probably meant I was a bit dozy. Surely not!

Does anyone know if "very pleasant lady" means fragrant and nice, or if it means thick?

I've obviously disinherited the son, regardless. (Not so dozy now am I? Twat.)

@AllBranEater it means the history is complex.

Oh no that’s awful

My husband was described in the consultant’s letter as “ This delightful gentleman” Took ages to stop laughing!

TFBNDY

This seems pretty old school to me. I thought people had stopped with this sort of stuff which I find a bit patronising. I guess people have a bit of a routine of how they start their letters

I write 'I saw x in the outpatient clinic on y date. They told me (stuff). There were the following findings on examination. We discussed (treatment options) and agreed on (the one chosen). Conclusion. Plan. Yours sincerely

I don't write anything in the notes that I would not say to their face.

It means you are not a dick. I work with Drs - some people are demanding, rude or entitled - this seems to be used to indicate that you are not.

😂😂😂

It would be quite interesting if patients could add their thoughts to the letter.

"Regrettably, my appointment was running 90 minutes late. I had allowed for a one hour delay and had to leave. It was disappointing that the admin staff did not inform patients of this on arrival."

I arrived on time for my wheezy baby's appointment. It upset me to hear the nurse weighing and measuring children before their appointments speak really roughly and harshly to them. It was inappropriate. When we were called in to see the lady registrar, she didn't bother to look up whilst barking "you all turn up late and now you are all here at once". I walked out of the appointment and have asked my GP to refer my baby to a consultant chest and lung specialist privately.

The young lady GP suggested my menopausal symptoms might decrease if I gave up work and wondered if I could consider that instead of taking HRT. She became agitated when I asked if she would give up work on becoming menopausal and asked why she thought all women should not receive optimal treatment regardless of whether they worked.

I do think unpleasantness, rudeness and daftness works both ways with the same frequency.

The term "FLK - funny looking kid" is still listed in the US edition of SNOMED CT clinical terminology system, as a synonym term under 112630007 | Abnormal facies (finding):

https://browser.ihtsdotools.org/?perspective=full&conceptId1=112630007&edition=MAIN/SNOMEDCT-US/2024-09-01&release=&languages=en#

There was also a codable term "GOK - God only knows" in the US Edition (301327002 | Undifferentiated illness: GOK - God only knows (finding)).
But that term has been retired from the terminology system.

Dear GP,

Following your referral, I met this condescending and disinterested old consultant at his clinic today two hours after the agreed time. He was well informed regarding my condition but less informed about common courtesy. It was a challenging consultation as he struggled to engage in active listening and his lack of eye contact suggests mental health issues. I will attend his clinic again in two months to reassess and will keep you informed of progress.’

My grandad used to tell about his family doctor who used the prescription ADT for someone who basically wanted medicine but didn't need it.
It stood for "Any Damn Thing".

I can kind of see where FLK comes from, but we'd hope nowadays it could be expressed better.
I've had the experience where someone showing off their new baby, and my heart sank when I looked at them because I was pretty certain by the look that there was some disorder.
I was too polite to say anything, and so was everyone else. Parents didn't realise until child was very behind developmentally and then were upset that no one had said anything, when the doctor pointed out the (obvious) signs. Turned out they'd refused the gentle suggestion from the health visitor that a genetic test might be a good idea, because they thought someone else would have said something and the HV was just being mean.

My DH got "straightforward, middle aged male" a few years ago. He was happy with that, as an unremarkable, sometimes grumpy but generally pleasant man in his late 40s

Oh dear! Lovely consultant I saw after 20 year gap, having only saw him once 20 years ago, remembered me. When I asked how, he said some patients were memorable.🙈🙈 Then when he wrote to my GP, didn’t use any nice terminology. Lovely dr though!

Is there anything memorable about you? Either name, striking features/appearance or unusual condition?
I'd be so shocked to be remembered after that long.

I remember lots of my clients from years back. Lots I don’t. Nothing remarkable about them. Just stuck with me.

Best I can recall as a patient was being described as "this slightly overweight woman". I was in my third trimester of pregnancy. They'd not realised and had thought I was just fat.

It's Dr code for this patient is lovely diagnose her properly.

If they make no comments. It's code for watch out for this one. Think they might be difficult.

Not sure they are actually that ill.

Neurologists are obsessed with right or left handedness and often mention it although it is of doubtful relevance to any neurological conditions. It's a bit of a convention to mention it.

I'm reminded of the student who told me about another student's medical tests after being hit on the head during a sports match. They concluded, in intensely reassuring tones: 'He had a brain scan- but it showed nothing!'

I was described as "a stranger to the surgery" in a letter to the hospital- I found out late my GP was trying to make clear I was not a malingerer.

I received one a few years ago that stated I "looked younger than stated age." I wasn't sure how to take it as I think I look my age and false flattery about looking young always annoys me, whether the fake compliment is toward me or someone else.

It is the standard opening sentence ... why they do it I do not know. We can't all be nice!

Do they describe men as pleasant too?? Sounds like sexist bollocks.

I once read one that started with, "You will not thank me for referring this patient to you".

Disclaimer it was part of my job to read the medical notes.

My dad got a copy of a letter to his GP last week that included the comment, "Mr X's granddaughter has recently qualified as a Dr" totally irrelevant to the condition or treatment.

And no that is not a stealth boast, she is my niece.

Means won't be too much trouble.
They generally don't like to be challenged. A nice compliant patient who won't question what I say.
Or 'wankers who get their information from dr google" as a pp said.