Enjoy part 2 of our conversations about the racist patient. In this episode we talk with a medical ethicist, Associate Professor Dr. Phillipa Malpas from the University of Auckland about the ethics involved in dealing with a racist patient. Have a listen.
I often tell my residents and students that when a patient is being rude, obnoxious, or offensive, it’s almost never about you; it’s almost invariably about the patient. If you can get through the behavior to figure out what’s underlying it, you have a real chance to make a connection. That being said, of course, it can be extraordinarily difficult to get through the behavior when they are being directly and personally offensive.
Good advice but it can be a herculean effort to put the offense aside I am sure…
Art