To find my report from breast clinic condescending?

[duletty]

I’m 44, had breastfeeding pain for a few months and then found a large lump on the underside of my arm near arm pit.
Gp arranged a quick appointment (was three weeks when usually a two week wait)....
Any way after mammogram and ultrasound they said it was cysts and calcification, so all good.
Got letter today outlining results and it said:
“Saw the this delightful lady in clinic today”......etc etc
I find this language unprofessional and it pissed me off that it was shitty code like a child’s school report.
I have to write reports for EHCPs and use appropriate professional language do it set me on edge.
Am I being precious?

My mum had "delightful gentleman" in her consultant letter.

It slightly spoiled the personal touch they were aiming for

Op :Am I being precious? Yes.

I've had the same consultant for 20 years, due to a long term health condition and in all the letters I'm copied into he describes me as 'pleasant young lady'. We have actually had a laugh about it a couple
years ago because I am no longer young, he said that he'll have to stop writing that soon!

I get why people would be offended - it's almost implying that your personality or disposition is relevant to your condition or treatment. If the OP were a dickhead (I'm sure she's not ) but receiving care they wouldn't write "This twat of a woman came to see me and I thought 'oh not her again'"

Big confession - I am a GP and often when referring say “delightful”. Some people are delightful. The day is long and hard and there are some patients you enjoy. The delightful and non delightful and downright rude still get the same level of care.
It is the interactions with people that matter in clinical care, especially
In General Practice as they can last many years.
Talk to your Dr if it bothers you.
So glad all the imaging turned out well.

My little daughter got a follow up consultant letter that described her as a delightful young lady. She is delightful and I thought it was nice of him to say so (though after reading this it’s not as unusual as I thought haha!)

Sounds a bit subjective/unscientific. But medicine is an old-fashioned discipline with very strange social norms.
I'm more amused (and bemused) by the nurses calling everybody "love" or "sweetheart".
It sounds really weird, honestly. Not offensive, but more like a completely different world. In no other profession would it be considered OK to address another adult like that, be they a colleague or a customer. It's a bit infantalising. Not sure whether it helps patients feel safe, or makes them actually feel more helpless.

I had this in a couple of letters by one Doctor.
Was a bit taken aback because it seemed quite personal.
But don't think he meant anything.
They were easy consultations.

@Kaiserin

Sounds a bit subjective/unscientific. But medicine is an old-fashioned discipline with very strange social norms. I'm more amused (and bemused) by the nurses calling everybody "love" or "sweetheart". It sounds really weird, honestly. Not offensive, but more like a completely different world. In no other profession would it be considered OK to address another adult like that, be they a colleague or a customer. It's a bit infantalising. Not sure whether it helps patients feel safe, or makes them actually feel more helpless.

found the above interesting. the fact that you find it wierd. are you not from britain originally. this is so common, not only in hospitals, but many service sectors, eg shop assistants. and in a way the patient, literally the one done to, is in a child position. i guess the turn over is so rapid that nurses don't notice names, and don't want to address a patient as, hello bed 6, need to take your obs. it's meant to be reassuring, friendly, supportive, to reduce stress.

It’s the usual language for a consultant writing to follow up with a GP.

@Kaiserin I'm in a chemo unit weekly for treatment. There are several nurses in there with 30 years plus experience. There is one who calls everybody her "little darling", male and female. She is bloody wonderful, I watched her remove a picc line from somebody the other day who had had it in for many months and the actual doctor couldn't remove it without causing excruciating pain to the patient. Yet she took over, got it out with minimal angst by using what appeared to be a method. She is an angel as far as I am concerned, the gentlest of cannula inserters, user of the kindest words. It would take a special kind of prick to be offended by her language but I am sure there will be one somewhere. I'm in that over 50 age group where I've seen both sides of the coin with PC/non PC language and quite honestly, I find a few kind words, especially to older patients, is lovely and is received well. It only appears to be younger age groups that get all offended by something like this.

@honeylulu

I'm a solicitor and did a lot of personal injury cases as a trainee and read many medical reports. The pleasant/ delightful patient is commonly referred to. I thought it rather twee but my supervising partner explained it is a type of professional "code" to indicate that they think the patient had given an honest account and not exaggerated their symptoms etc. A report saying simply "this man/lady" indicates a reservation or concern.

@honeylulu

That is fascinating.
I've had that on my letters and never knew why.
Wonder if Dr's share this code with each other - they must do?
Can you tell us some other terms and what they may mean?

@Kaiserin

I know this is off point but I hope you recover soon.

Stay safe and well.

I was in hospital overnight for observation a while ago and had a similar experience - report said something ‘Heirloom is a pleasant woman presenting with...etc’ I was flattered to be termed ‘pleasant’ since I can be a curmudgeon at times but I guessed it was hospital-speak for ‘not screaming, swearing or belligerent on admission’

Can't imagine why this annoyed you ! a little change of mindset is needed.

Often see “poor historian” on peoples notes if they’re not very good at telling a concise or clear story.

Also, there are occasions in consultations where it is appropriate to comment on the persons outward appearance and affect. “Looks well, speaking full sentences, warm to touch” or if they’re not so well it might be “Looks pale, clammy, not able to complete a sentence between breaths, audibly wheezing on arrival”. Or in children and babies where there are concerns it might be appropriate to document “Clean and tidy, appropriately dressed for the weather, appropriately inquisitive”. On occasions I might also type “quite tearful during consultation, or “patient has great insight into....”.

And sometimes when they just won’t stop talking I’ll write “verbose historian”.

I’m not a doctor, just a nurse practitioner. But sometimes you need to be creative with language in order to properly document the mood or impression of the consultation.

I'm a bit worried now, I never seem to be referred to as delightful but I don't think I'm a difficult patient

Oh and I used to think nurses who called patients by pet names were awfully condescending until I became one myself. It's really bloody comforting when you're out of it and agony and someone lovely comes alone and asks if you'd like a cup of tea, sweetheart, just like your mum might have.

Became a patient that is, not a nurse

I find it strange that the OP objects to be being called "delightful". Perhaps she would find "obnoxious" more acceptable.

@HeyHoLetsGoAgain Yes

@QueenofPain

Now if I had
“verbose historian” on a letter
I might be on this thread outraged!

Brill phrase.

I usually get “it was a pleasure to meet with myname today”. I didn’t think anything of it - I assumed they write it on every letter!

On one of the other threads on this topic somebody was a "pleasant primagravida". Which sounds like it belongs in the baby names section.

I thought they were encouraged to use language such as this to give the impression that they are remembering you as a unique person. I would not worry, you probably came across as dour as you do on this thread. 😂 but they can’t put that can they?

I think it's normal, perhaps they even have to put something like that because mine also always say 'this pleasant lady' etc