To wonder why doctors always refer to a patient as pleasant

[Beatinghearts]

I find it strange these nothing particularly pleasant about me. I’m polite but not overly so.

It's kind of Doctor speak, they usually do this for reference purposes, in case you have to see another doctor or consultant later.

My dad was a GP and I used to help out sometimes on reception.

Back before data protection was even a thing, it was all paper notes etc.

The other receptionists told me that docs were having to move away from writing what they thought in the notes 'this patient is a hypochondriac and very argumentative' and using codes instead.

I expect it's dying out but pleasant Def means not an aresehole.

I have not had any adjectives used to describe me, possibly because I'm quite moody looking and dour of countenance. What's an acceptable code word for resting bitch face?

They could always say ‘this arsehole...’ my dms gets ‘lovely lady’ code for ‘hasn’t a clue what’s going on.’

I would suggest that it was younger docs who don't use the code. Otherwise you would Def be pleasant

Docs can be weird though. Or nurses. Can't remember. Two have made comments about my interior while doing a smear.

And one when I went for a MH thing said something about how great my personality was

Docs in general don't like patients who have opinions. I think it boils down to...!

When I was young my doc was treated like God. They would get the ward prepared for him, all uniforms smart. He would have a load of scared looking students. He referred to the ones under his care as 'the patient'. No one was supposed to talk to him unless he asked them to.

Sorry reminiscing!

But yes many don't like patients with opinions!

@Drawt : I think you covered it very eloquently with " dour of countenance".

@MiddlesexGirl

I seem to always be described as pleasant too. Such a dull, almost damning word! I wonder if men are described as pleasant and if not, how are they described?!

Most of the reports I do cite patient as being "pleasant and cooperative" or something similar. It's code for not being an arse

I see lots of medical records at work. They almost all say ‘pleasant’ (men, women and sometimes children!). I never really knew why, but assume it’s just code for ‘not a total twat’.

When I was writing referral letters for patients I would use pleasant for those patients who truly are lovely, you know those that are polite and treat the staff as a human not a slave,ones who aren't hard work with a million and one complaints about everything.

They don't. I've previously had "very distressed" and "clearly anxious". Basically when I was firm about needing some answers.

I've also had "has attended clinic multiple times in recent weeks despite being rarely seen in previous years".... yes, because I'm in pain 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've also had "has attended clinic multiple times in recent weeks despite being rarely seen in previous years".... yes, because I'm in pain 🤷🏻‍♀️

And that’s exactly what they’re highlighting to whoever the letter is going to- that this is unusual for you and therefore there’s something going on, instead of you being someone who goes to the doctor when you need your toenails clipped

I think nearly all ds say "it was a pleasure to see ds and his mum again in clinic today"

I always laugh at "again"!

He sees one neuro yearly and one every 6 months.

I think the pleasure is just because we are polite, always have the information we need to discuss written down and ds takes his condition in his stride - plus he's waiting on some genetics which obviously is a slow process atm!

They've recently commented on how da just takes his condition in his stride.

They don't do that where I live. It's just 'I saw Patient ABC on 123 for XYZ' etc. Much prefer it that way. A doctor's judgement on my personality has no place in a medical report, which, after all, is supposed to be a record of facts. I think it emphasises the power differential, as it being there implies a right to judge the patient's character. I get it's convention, etc etc, but the sooner it dies out the better.

I don't mind 'appeared very distressed' or whatever, as tha records something that was observed and may be relevant (and is marked as a subjective observation).

Agree it's just code for not a pain in the arse. In the paper notes day you would occasionally see gems such as TAPS (thick as pig shit)

@CeeceeBloomingdale

Agree it's just code for not a pain in the arse. In the paper notes day you would occasionally see gems such as TAPS (thick as pig shit)

Am I alone in not finding that sort of thing funny, but really, really unprofessional, arrogant and sisrespectful?

Better than being described as difficult. After this dr in his mid 60s dared to tell me that pain was part and parcel of pregnancy, i had occipital neuralgia, so I asked him how many times he had been pregnant and then proceed to tell his lovely med student that she should take note not to ever treat a pregnant woman as an incubator. I then walked out. I had been awake 2 days from the pain and being told to avoid pain killers and to think of the baby just tipped me over the edge.

I got “this divine lady” from a cardiologist. Howled with laughter

It’s not arrogant or inappropriate. It’s part of a bio psychosocial approach to medicine and viewing patients as whole people, not just bearers of your speciality organs. It can be really helpful in diagnostic processes to have a clear picture of affect/presentation/social skills, especially when referrals happen with so little collaboration between departments at times. So yes, “pleasant” might not tell you much, but it does rule out violent aggressive tendencies, which if they show up later are now probably out of character and might be indicative of something else.

“Divine lady” is fantastic.

When I was studying health psychology, I remember reading some interesting studies that suggested one of the strongest predictors if successful medical outcome was the patient’s perception that the doctor liked them. So maybe these doctors are into something?

I’ve had ‘pleasant and well dressed’ before.

I am " casually dressed but clean".

Not sure what that means.

I've often been described as "anxious" I wonder if that is code for suspected hypochondriac or just annoying

I always thought it meant 'unproblematic patient who is easy to deal with'