A patient who needs emergent surgery says I

I know that you are concerned about the medical

can not afford the cost of staying in the hospital. I

cost, but your life will be in danger if you dont

have no insurance, just give me something to

have the surgery. Let our social worker help you

relieve my pain and I will leave.

with the cost issues.

should I tell my partner about my venereal

Yes, theres a chance that you have already

disease?

transmitted the disease to your partner, or he

may be the source of your infection. The most
important thing is to have both of you
appropriately tested and treated.

An anxious patient who you suspect has been

I am primarily concerned about your safety. I just

abused asks, Why are you ask me these

want to make sure you are in a safe environment

questions?

and you are not a victim of abuse.

A patient recently diagnosed with HIV asks Do I

I know its difficult, but doing so allows you and

need to tell my wife?

your wife take appropriate precautions to treat

and prevent the transmission of the disease.

A doorway information indicates a male patient,

Hi Ms Smith? If the patient respond, no Im Ms

Mr. Smith, complaining of dizziness. But when

Black.

you enter the room you find a female patient.

wrong chart, Ok Ms Black, how can I help you

Oh the the nurse must give me the

today? Retake the vital sign!!

A female patient seduce her physician Do you

Sorry, its inappropriate, since you are my

want to have dinner with me at my place

patient, it would not be permissible in the

tonight?

context of doctor-patient relationship

A old patient says I think it would be normal to

Not necessarily, age could be one of the reasons

have this at my age or I just get old

for what you are experiencing in sexual

performance. But therere other possibilities we
need to rule out, such as HTN and DM. We also
have medications that could improve your sexual
performance.

I read in a journal that the herbals can help with

Herbal medicine is suggested for many diseases.

my condition

But their safety and efficacy may not be clear. Let

me know the herbal medicine name, I will check
it about its potential role in your condition.
I understand your feelings. Its common and

Im afraid of surgery

normal to have these feelings before surgery. Is

there any specific things you are concerned of?
I know that you dont want to put off your trip,

A patient has a serious problem asks I want to

but you may have a serious disease that may

go on a travel with my wife soon, can I have the

benefit a lot if it can be tested and treated in an

test after I come back?

early stage. Besides, you may also suffer from

some complications of this disease during
vacation if we dont effectively deal with it before
you leave

I didnt understand your questions, could you

repeat it?
Its kind of a tube with a mini-camera attached to
What is bronchoscopy?

the end of it, which can be used to investigate the

respiratory tract, even some parts of the lung.
Its never too late to seek help. And Im glad you
come here to ask for help. We will do our best to

A patient who is late in seeking medical help

help you. But next time, I want you to feel

asks Do you think its too late for recovery?

comfortable coming to me as soon as you feel

you might have a problem.
Based on your medical history and PE findings,
my suspicion for heart attack is low. Its more

A patient with pleuritic pain asks Is this a heart

likely that the inflammation of the membranes..

attack? Am I going to die?

Do I have cancer?

make the final diagnosis. Or

Its unlikely for a patient with your complaint to
have this type of cancer. But if you r really
concerned about this. Ill order some test to
confirm it.
My friend told me you are a very good doctor,

Im flattered, but I cant refill your medicine

thats why I come to you to refill my medicines.

without

reviewing

your

history

better

understand your need for the medicine. Also, I

need to do some physical exams and probably
order some test for you.
Will my insurance cover the cost of this test?

Im not sure, but we have social workers who can

provide that information. If its necessary, Ill
write a letter to the insurance company to
indicate the importance of this test.

A patient with going back to work can have bad

Actually, work can worsen your condition. Youd

effect on his health, asksCan I go back to work?

better to stay at home to rest for now. I can write

to your employer to explain your conditions.

Do you think the tumor I have can be malignant?

Its hard to say right now until we removed the

tumor and get pathology report. We will keep
you informed as soon as we get any information.

Since I stopped smoking, I started to get weight. I

There are healthier way to lose weight , such as

want to go back to smoke in order to lose weight.

diet and exercise. Smoking will increase your

cancer risk, heart problem and lung disease.

A patient with shoulder injury says Im afraid of

We will do our best to help you recover from

losing my job due to shoulder problem.

your shoulder problems. With your permission, I

will communicate your situation with your
employer.

Thats only one of the possibilities, but therere

other explanations we need to exclude before

Will I ever feel better, doc?

Its hard to cure in this advanced stage. But we

get a lot of terms for controlling your symptoms
and improve the quality of your life.
Do you think I can move my arm like before?

Its hard to say right now, but this kind of

fracture usually heal well. And with physical
therapy, you should regain the normal range of
motion of your arm.

I think life is full of misery, why do we have to

Life can certainly be challenging. Is there any

live?

thing specific that is bothering you? Have you

ever thought to end your life?

A young man with many sexual partners recently

Having multiple sexual partners does put you at

has a skin rash appears asks am I infected with

risk of infected by HIV, but this rash could due to

HIV?

many other causes, I agree with you we should

add HIV test in the list.

A patient needs hospitalization says I need to

I know you are worried about your child, but

leave now, my child is alone at home.

staying in the hospital is at your best interest

right now, I can try to contact the social worker
to arrange you child care with your permission.

Do you have any thing to make me feel better?

I know you are in great discomfort, Im sorry to

Im in great pain.

still talk with you. But I have to determine the

causes of your pain in order to give you the most
efficient treatment. After Im done with the
evaluation, we can decide the best way to
manage your pain.

Yes, most patient has a complete recovery from

A malingering patient says Doc, I need one week

this disease. Or

off work, my back pains a lot.

you from work. I plan to prescribe some pain

medications and exercises, and most of your
recovery process will involve continuing your
normal daily life.
So whats the plan? Doc.

After we get the results of your test, well meet

again. At that time Ill try to any Q you may have.

Do you think I need surgery?

Ill try to manage your condition by medicine.

But if it doesnt work, surgery may be needed.
We can see how things goes and make that
decision together in the future.

A patient with only one sexual partners

You most likely contracted it from your sexual

diagnosed with STD asks could he cheat on

partner. Youd better to talk with him to clear

me?

things up. He needs to be tested and treated, or

you may risk becoming reinfected.

A bleeding patient becomes very angry when

you

mention

that

she

may

need

blood

I respect your opinion and will make sure you

dont get any blood product until we have

transfusion.

explains

its

benefits

and

obtained

your

1. I have a religious in objecting blood product!

permission.

2.My brother is died from blood transfusion!

Im sorry about your loss. Death is a very rare

complication during transfusion. And I will make
sure to take all the necessary precautions before
giving you transfusions.

3. I have a serious reaction last time I get blood.

Thank you for telling me this. I will try to

determine the cause of that reaction and treat it
before I give you any transfusion.

I know you are discomfort, but after examining

A patient is wandering in the room, ignoring you

you. I find nothing is significant enough to keep

and doesnt listen to what you said.

can not help you. So, please take a seat and help
me to determine whats going on.
A patient asks you a question while you are

Tell them youd like to give him the full attention.

washing your hands

Establish eye contact.

During an encounter, A patient is asking if she

can take a bathroom break?
A patient requires to be examined by another

Of course, its your right to choose a doctor, but I

doctor.

want you to know that Im also a very

well-qualified doctor and can help you if you
allow me to address your concerns. If you still
have other opinion, I will be happy to help you to
find another doctor who might be a better fit.

A patient with auditory hallucinations ask you if

Theres no such diagnosis in medicine. It might

you think he is crazy?

be some physiological or psychological problems.

And theres a good chance we can address it.

A patient asks you if his previous doctor makes

Although your previous doctor may have a

mistake in his treatment.

different treatment plan, we have to make

decisions based on what we have discovered
today. Im sorry it may be frustrating for you. But
we want to receive the treatment that we think is
most efficient and safe for you.

A patient wants to know how to deal with son

Ask if son has any confusing about sexual

who is a gay.

orientation. If yes, suggest him to seek medical

help.

I can only imagine how you feel as patient in

An educated 58 yo F asks I read in a scientific

your situation. But if you dont speak with me, I

journal that hormonal replacement therapy

causes breast cancer. What do you think of that?

and estrogen for more than 4 years, the current

recommendation

is

to

use

hormonal

replacement only for a short period to treat hot

flashes.
Did I have a stroke

We dont know yet. Your symptoms could be

explained by a small stroke. But we still need to
wait for the result to confirm the diagnosis

Do I have lung caner?

Were still not sure at this moment. We need to

wait for the additional test results to confirm it.

An Africa American patient with sickle cell

I know you are in great pain, but I have to ask

anemia says please doc, Im in great pain, I need

you some questions first to better understand

some Demerol or Ill die from pain

your pain. Then I will give you some pain

medicine to ease your pain.

A patient with symptoms of common cold

I think you have a common cold which is caused

saidDoc, I think I need some antibiotics.

by virus. And antibiotic can not fix it, while it

may cause some side effects to make you feel
worse. Now, we need to focus on relieve your
symptoms.

my mother has breast cancer, what is the chance

You are at increased risk, but it doesnt mean you

I will have it too?

will get it. Therere other risk factors need to be

considered. And annual screen is a very
important screening method.

A 55yo M said I have a colonoscopy 6 yr ago,

Yes, we need to do the procedure. So we can find

and they remove a small polyp, do you think I

if theres more polyps or not. In this way, we can

need colonoscopy this time?

prevent the colon cancer.

Studies do show increased risk of breast cancer

A patient with headache and confusion asks, am

in women who take combination of progesterone

I having Alzheimer disease?

you may have Alzheimer disease?

Can I get pregnant even my tubes is ligated?

Theres no single method of contraceptive could

be 100%. Its rare to be pregnant after the tube is
ligated, lower that 1%. If it does happen, it has a
high possibility to be ectopic pregnancy.

A woman in 1 trimester with vaginal bleeding

Bleeding can increase the possibility of losing it.

said will I lose my baby?

But at the same time, many women have

bleeding carry their baby to term without any
problems.

My brother has colon cancer , whats my chance

Some type of colon cancer could be hereditary,

of having it?

but it doesnt mean you will get it for sure. I

would like to ask more information of your
health to better determine your risk level.

A patient with palpitation said my mother has a

Theres one possibilities. We usually check the

thyroid problem , do you think it could be it?

thyroid function in patient with palpitation. But

therere other explanations for it that wed like
to investigate.

Obesity runs in my family. Do you think thats

Genes play an important role in obesity, but life

why Im over weight?

style, diet, daily activities are also factors can

influence you weight. Through these, we can
work out a plan in controlling your weight.

A young man with dysuria asks do you think I

Its one of the possibilities. But theres other

have STD?

explanations for your symptoms such as UTI, so

Id like to order some urine test to confirm it.

A patient with copd asks will I get better if I quit

Most patients in your condition improves

smoke?

gradually after they stop smoking. Also, it can

decrease the risk of lung cancer in the future.

It could be one of the possibilities. We can order

A patient with possible appendicitis ask for a cup

some test to investigate. And why do you think

of water to drink.

surgery later, and anesthesia will be much safer

if your stomach is completely empty.
A patient with infectious mononucleuosis asks if

you have recovered from acute stage of this stage,

I can go back to school?

you can back to school. But I want you to stay

away from strenuous exercise or any contact
sports, or you may risk rupturing your spleen.
Newborns often develop a mild case of natural

Can this jaundice hurt my baby? Why is he like

jaundice after birth. This type of physiologic

this?

jaundice will resolve and rarely poses a threat to

the baby. However, if your newborn has a more
severe type of jaundice, his yellow pigment levels,
known as bilirubin levels, may rise too high and
cause damage to his brain. To determine the
severity of your childs illness, I must examine
him in the office and obtain some blood tests.
After seeing him, I should be able to give you a
more accurate assessment of his condition.

think

your

tremor

will

improve

with

medications. But I dont know how long will the

Do you think I will get better? Asked from

improvement last. Because your symptoms

Parkinsons Disease.

indicate a larger movement disorder called

Parkinsons disease. We need to do some tests to
explore this possibility.

Im sorry, but I can not give you anything to eat

or drink. Because you may need an emergency