Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Foreword
- Contents
- List of tables
- Preface
- Preface to the 1997 edition
- Acknowledgments
- About the authors
- Table of cases
- Table of statutes
- 1 Ethical principles for the medical profession
- 2 Ethical and legal responsibilities of medical students
- 3 Communication skills
- 4 Consent and informed decision making
- 5 Confidentiality, privacy and disclosure
- 6 Medical records, reports and certificates
- 7 Negligence, professional liability and adverse events
- 8 The regulation of the medical profession
- 9 Health care complaints systems
- 10 The doctor and sexual boundaries
- 11 Personal health of the doctor: illness and impairment
- 12 Maintenance of professional competence
- 13 Ethics and the allocation of health-care resources
- 14 The Australian health-care system
- 15 The doctor and interprofessional relationships
- 16 Entering and leaving practice and practice management
- 17 Clinical research
- 18 Prescribing and administering drugs
- 19 Diagnosing and certifying death and the role of the coroner
- 20 Births, reproductive technology, family law and child protection
- 21 Termination of pregnancy and related issues
- 22 Withholding or withdrawing treatment in the seriously or terminally ill
- 23 The law and the mentally ill
- 24 The law and courts of law in Australia
- 25 Medico-legal examinations and reports, court procedures and expert evidence
- 26 Other legislation relevant to medical practice
- APPENDIX 1 AMA CODE OF ETHICS – 2004
- Index
- References
This chapter is part of a book that is no longer available to purchase from Cambridge Core
3 - Communication skills
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Foreword
- Contents
- List of tables
- Preface
- Preface to the 1997 edition
- Acknowledgments
- About the authors
- Table of cases
- Table of statutes
- 1 Ethical principles for the medical profession
- 2 Ethical and legal responsibilities of medical students
- 3 Communication skills
- 4 Consent and informed decision making
- 5 Confidentiality, privacy and disclosure
- 6 Medical records, reports and certificates
- 7 Negligence, professional liability and adverse events
- 8 The regulation of the medical profession
- 9 Health care complaints systems
- 10 The doctor and sexual boundaries
- 11 Personal health of the doctor: illness and impairment
- 12 Maintenance of professional competence
- 13 Ethics and the allocation of health-care resources
- 14 The Australian health-care system
- 15 The doctor and interprofessional relationships
- 16 Entering and leaving practice and practice management
- 17 Clinical research
- 18 Prescribing and administering drugs
- 19 Diagnosing and certifying death and the role of the coroner
- 20 Births, reproductive technology, family law and child protection
- 21 Termination of pregnancy and related issues
- 22 Withholding or withdrawing treatment in the seriously or terminally ill
- 23 The law and the mentally ill
- 24 The law and courts of law in Australia
- 25 Medico-legal examinations and reports, court procedures and expert evidence
- 26 Other legislation relevant to medical practice
- APPENDIX 1 AMA CODE OF ETHICS – 2004
- Index
- References
Summary
Chapter 1 emphasised how respect for patient autonomy has become more central to the doctor–patient relationship while beneficence has been diminished in importance because of its paternalistic overtones. Effective communication strengthens patient autonomy by enhancing understanding and is essential for good medical practice. It is the means of history taking, obtaining consent for examinations and procedures, and explaining diagnoses and treatment. Effective communicators are able to establish rapport, trust and confidence with patients more easily than ineffective communicators, thereby enhancing the flow of crucial information and increasing the likelihood that advice will be heeded. Effective communication decreases the likelihood of complaints, acrimony or legal action if adverse events occur [2–3]. Good communication skills alone are not sufficient for professional medical practice and must be accompanied by clinical competence, empathy and ethical behaviour. Good communication skills are also a necessary prerequisite if the doctor is to provide effective leadership of the ‘health-care team’.
Effective communication also improves the quality of health care [5–6] and can have a very positive effect on the satisfaction gained from a consultation by both doctor and patient. Breakdowns in communication are the most common basis of patient dissatisfaction. Surveys show that dissatisfied patients criticise their doctor for not listening, for not providing adequate explanations or for appearing disinterested. Satisfied patients perceive their doctor to demonstrate humaneness, understanding, ability to listen without hurrying the patient, and the skill of involving the patient in decision making [7–9].
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Good Medical PracticeProfessionalism, Ethics and Law, pp. 33 - 48Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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