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.

I was once described in a letter as 'very pleasant' after I had been very stubborn and demanding which made me think ever since that it was doctor code for PITA.

One of the consultants I used to work for described a lady as having ‘a smoker’s face’. I really hope she didn’t see it.

We had this same thread a few months ago.....

It's just one of those stylistic traditions that's passed down from master to apprentice that you pick up as a trainee without really thinking too much about it.

Most of the time it probably doesn't mean anything, it's just a reflex way to open a letter whilst you're gathering your thoughts as to what to actually dictate.

I personally hate it, it's mostly irrelevant to the content of the consultation and opens you up to accusations of inaccuracy or bias in your consultations if anyone ever takes exception to it.

@TabbyStar

My cervix is apparently not where it's supposed to be!

As long as it's not over your left ear, you're probably alright, though.

@speakout

I am " casually dressed but clean".

Not sure what that means.

Lol. It probably means you wear sports gear but don't smell of BO

@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?!

My DH is always described as 'a lovely gentleman'.

I've quite often had pleasant to describe me. My favourite letter though was about DD from her consultant to our gp at the time - I cant remember the exact wording but it didn't take much to read between the lines that the child's mother knows when she is ill or not and should be paid attention to.

In fairness he was seething that she'd been left for so long before getting to him by the gps who swore I was just an overbearing first time mother, told us to get the hell out of that surgery and sent the nastiest toned letters to them. When we managed to shift gps the tone of his letters changed completely too. I've never seen medical letter passive aggressiveness before.

I had a letter saying I was slim and delightful! I don’t think I’m either, I felt like framing it and putting it on the wall!!

@speakout

I am " casually dressed but clean".

Not sure what that means.

Sorry but as judgemental as that is it made me laugh out loud and wonder why that would be noticeable and worth mentioning?!

I have not been described as pleasant I'm a PITA and I don't care what they think about me. I've dealt with a few patronising doctors over the last year, one of them told I was 'getting myself confused' when I asked certain questions, which obvs riled me. Turned out I was right.

I work for a service which receives GP referrals and love the hints in the attached letters. Delightful, pleasant, charming etc are just code for "don't expect resistance or difficulty" but there are subtle hints as to expected behaviours and backgrounds which are useful to our service. The odd one is entirely baffling though. A couple of years ago I was told to expect an "average height young man who is blue of eye". I assumed the GP was bored/whimsical/distracted.

DD, aged 10, was described as "a remarkably bright and engaging young woman who is unfortunate to suffer the affliction of a mischievous younger brother". He was a lovely consultant.

My surgeon always says I'm very pleasant, does this mean I'm nice or a pushover?

Where are you getting these letters from? Do you get sent copies automatically or are you accessing them through freedom of information?

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

Where are you getting these letters from? Do you get sent copies automatically or are you accessing them through freedom of information?

In my experience if you see a consultant they write to your GP with the results of the appointment and you get a copy of the letter.

Loving the TAPS acronym

Sparklingbrook

Thank you! That’s so interesting. I had no idea that happened.

Working in a hospital and getting a referral with this on is very helpful. It tells us that the patient isn't a total twat!

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

Sparklingbrook

Thank you! That’s so interesting. I had no idea that happened.

It's quite weird to read. It's like a summary of everything that was said and they're talking about you. I don't know why it's necessary though, you were there and heard it all. So it makes me believe there's some rule where you have to have it!

I’ve been pleasant, delightful, charming, lovely, and various others over many years and several specialisms. I’m always engaged and reasonably well-informed, polite but enquiring and try to be my usual chatty and relaxed self. I’ve always just assumed it all means ‘acts like a reasonable person and isn’t an arsehole’.

@MitheringSunday agreed, I used "gem" sarcastically, maybe it didn't read like that. Very unprofessional and totally unnecessary.

Slightly disappointed they don't write things like that here in Finland, just the medical stuff (though its often noted that 'patient is stressed' in my notes) but for some reason with my children they always write down that they speak English at home, not sure of the medical relevance of that.

It’s doctor code for “not an arse or difficult”. A small word but speaks volumes to colleagues.

Fully appreciate patients can be “difficult” (probably an unfair label as it’s subjective) due to illness, stress, fear, pain, ect ect. But there is a surprising amount of people who are just that - difficult - in any interaction. Anyone who’s done a public facing role can appreciate that.

I use it for both genders in my letters. I wouldn’t actually use it if the person was not (in my opinion) “pleasant”. On the other hand if someone I’d seen was “difficult” I’d look for a reason why, and outline this in my letter if relevant to try and improve outcomes for the patient. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience before or are just plain scared.

@speakout

I am " casually dressed but clean".

Not sure what that means.

I've had "casually dressed" several times but never "clean". The time I wore trackpants and a hoodie I got "very casually dressed". I assumed it was one better than "dishevelled"? lol

My favourite one, post a breast ultrasound, was ‘thank you for sending us this delightful 31 year old [insert job title here] with lumpy breasts’. Felt like a good summary of me at the time!