to wonder why consultants comment on people's personalities?

[EverythingYouDoIsaBalloon]

Not a TAAT but I just read a post on a different thread that mentioned someone experiencing this, and it reminded me that I've heard about it several times over the past couple of years.

In 2023 I fractured my shoulder and as it wasn't a straightforward fracture I was referred to a consultant, who wrote in one of this reports that I was a 'very pleasant lady'. While that was nice to read, it baffled me a little as I didn't see the relevance.

Then a friend of DH's said a consultant had referred to him as a 'pleasant gentleman'. (Different part of the country, no chance it was the same person.)

Then another friend said she'd been referred to as a 'lovely lady' when seen for stomach problems.

Don't get me wrong, compliments are always nice. I just find it a bit strange in a health context. 🤔 I've wondered whether it's some sort of code for 'cooperative patient' or something along those lines, but then I can be a bit of a cynic at times.

Has anyone else experienced this, or does anyone know why it's done?

But it could be read like that.

I agree that comments on appearance can occur in MH assessments (I'm not a psychiatrist but see assessments from mental health teams on ward patients in for a physical health issue), but they describe things like well groomed/well kept/tidy appearance or the opposite e.g. unkempt appearance, faeces beneath fingernails/caked on around buttocks as this may give a clue to mental state. Physical attractiveness and cleanliness are separate things though.

I can see we aren't going to agree though, but I will ask again, do you have a healthcare role and what is it, as I'm curious where you have come across this as an unremarkable comment (assuming again that you are in the UK)?

As a senior nurse, these a pretty standard comments in doctors letters. GP’s will put similar comments when sending a referral in! I’m not sure why it’s bothering you, I think you would be more upset if the doctor wrote rude obnoxious patient!

Maybe, but we also sometimes write something like’Mr X is a man with strong opinions’ or ‘Mr X expressed his dissatisfaction concerning. . . > ‘. Also there will be a tone to the letter. It may be warm and sympathetic, or formal and to the point.

35-years-ago when I joined the NHS, Psychiatrists and no doubt other medics (I’m a Psychologist) used to also right really offensive, inappropriate descriptions of patients too. I often read things like “I have just seen this unpleasant, rather smelly man for assessment”, or “thank you for asking me to see this rather hysterical and tiresome woman” 😮

Anxious absolutely doesn’t mean PITA.

This ^. It’s an outdated meaningless courtesy, a bit like starting an email with, “I hope you are well”. It can sound quite blunt and rude to just call someone “this lady”. Now, it’s considered rude to comment on someone’s personality so younger doctors are less likely to use the phrase.

one of my DD 10 lastest clinic letters says
“ I was lovely to see ‘daisy’ today and was amazing to see how far she has come even correcting her mother on medical terminology more than once “ 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Healthcare staff are often encouraged to provide their observations of patients based on their interactions so someone could be pleasant, clued up, withdrawn or even combative etc they may also make note of ur appearance such as well kempt, dressed appropriately or appearing unclean.
It could be used for the here and now or as a just incase for the future but there’s a variety of reasons it can be helpful. for my profession we’d use it to get a basic understanding of someone’s baseline I.e
if you were presenting consistently as pleasant, engaging and well kempt but then started appearing withdrawn and attending in odd shoes and a dressing grown.. does this mean something could be going on and we need investigate or odd shoes and a dressing grown is your style and your withdrawn because you just don’t like me?

Not sure whether it's me you're replying to, but the comments on here are showing such a high degree of subjectivity as to how various words could be interpreted, that it sort of illustrates the problem really. Different words mean different things to different people.

Being a bit flippant now, but I shopped in Asda yesterday wearing my prescription sunglasses because I'd forgotten to swap them for my usual glasses before going into the store. If that'd been a medical appointment I wonder if I'd have been written up as 'charmingly eccentric' or something similar. 😄

I work with a few docs who use phrases like “I met with this pleasant lady today” in their letters. They use them for everyone as far as I can see.

I tend to introduce people by referring to their age (“I met with this 54 year old lady today” for example). It’s just a writing style, no need to overthink it.

Yes, i did wonder why my neurologist wrote such a thing about me, especially as the medication induced neurological involuntary movement disorder that i have can be very bizarre looking 😅

He did genuinely write this, i promise. I'm not making it up (nor am I completely ugly or very good looking, just quite pretty 😏).

It actually makes me feel ugly with some of the strange involuntary movements that my mouth/face make, so i kind of thought the consultant wsa possibly trying to help me be positive about it (but in a rather sanctimonious and smarmy way though 😅🤔😆)

AP is also an abbreviation for an XRay request anterior/posterior, ie front to back view.

Just looking through paperwork of mine, I'm referred to as:

"Extremely charming and eloquent" (?)
"Very pleasant"
"Nice young lady"

Have never looked through my own notes, bit nervous now in case my description is critical!

I did know 'pleasant' was code for nice and normal, not aggressive etc.

One of my DCs was referred to as 'I met with lovely (name)' as a baby which I always thought was sweet.

I’ve had a few that said ‘It was pleasure to see CuteEasterBunny in clinic today…’ but I never read my copy of their reports anymore.

they used to be written in Latin

Pleasant really isn't code for anything.

In paediatrics they will include nice phrases about your child but in adults it's just a standard phrase.

I swear that some consultants could be punched in the face by a patient and still open their letter 'I saw this pleasant gentleman in clinic today'

Clinicians either use it or they don't and increasingly they don't.

I was also described as ‘very pleasant lady’. I would guess it’s a kind of code for cooperative/non-threatening etc.
We have an acquaintance who is a bloody nightmare. I’d guess hypochondriac (although I think that term is out dated now). Always seeing GP for the slightest thing. Never stops complaining about ailments. I’d love to see the code for him! Maybe ‘anxious about his health’

It’s normal for a lot of professionals to talk to each other bluntly about clients/clients/students. In their shoes I would welcome a secret code to use in writing. As a former high school teacher I have written:
X does not use his time wisely = he wastes his f**king time in class
X needs to use equipment responsibly and respectfully = he breaks and damages other kids’ stuff

If there’s a change in personality it could be a red flag, safe guarding issue etc. also if it’s been a particularly difficult consultation it can give a heads up to the next person. Xx

‘Good looking’ is such a subjective judgement that has no place in clinical practice. Would it be ok to write ‘this pretty girl’ too??

Evidence here with a cropped image of my neurologist's letter calling me "good looking" - in case anyone doubted he wrote it! 🤔😆

Haha, you should give it ago and report back 🤣. I can bet they will make reference to you wearing sunglasses on a rainy day 😂
but from my experience atleast doctors may subtly and sometimes awkwardly explore certian details if something seems out of ordinary or unusual. Although this can vary depending on department.
-if you was attending an eye appointment they may wonder if you’re sensitive to light.
-ane and fracture clinic I can imagine would be senstive to looking for signs of d/v.
-mental health - could go either way wouldn’t batter an eyelid/is this a fashion choice/are you experiencing hallucinations or suspicious.

Speaking as a teacher, there are lots of euphemisms written in reports, for example, describing kids as 'a lively character' is code for a little s**t! Describing you as pleasant is probably helpful for the next health worker to know you're not difficult or, if you are, that something major might have changed!