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I read the editorial by Greenland¹ with interest. As a nurse-attorney who has been in the health care field for many years, my observation is that this experience is not unique and is actually similar to that of many other physicians. So often, physicians begin to truly understand what patients need when finding themselves on the "other side of the fence" in the health care system. From a risk management perspective, this is a good thing. They often go on to improve their practice style to take into account the "intangibles" that patients are looking for—trust, respect, commitment, and caring. Studies have demonstrated that when these elements are present in a physician-patient relationship, satisfaction increases and the likelihood of litigation decreases.

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Correspondence: Ms Geller (k.geller@earthlink.net).

Karen H. Geller, RN, JD

1. Greenland P. What if the patient were your mother? Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:607-608. FREE FULL TEXT

Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2170.

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What If the Patient Were Your Mother?
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