Bedside manner

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Bedside manner is a term describing how a healthcare professional handles a patient. A good bedside manner is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient. Vocal tones, body language, openness, presence, and concealment of attitude may all affect bedside manner. Poor bedside manner leaves the patient feeling unsatisfied, worried, alone, or frightened. Bedside manner becomes difficult when a healthcare professional explains to the patient the true diagnosis, while keeping the patient from being alarmed.

Examples in the Media

• The bedside manner of Dr. Gregory House (of the show House) is often criticized. He is typically rude to his patients, but this is how he treats every other character as well.
• In Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Burke compliments Dr. George O'Malley on his bedside manner after seeing him taking care of a patient's baby.
• Doc Martin from the TV series of the same name is a good example of a doctor with a poor bedside manner.
• In Lost, Hurley tells Jack Shephard that his bedside manner "sucks". Later in the episode Jack is told by his father to put more hope into his sayings. Which he does when operating on his future wife.
• In Closer, Larry, the doctor tells Anna when they first meet that he is famed for his bedside manner.

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Last updated on Saturday March 08, 2008 at 12:22:06 PST (GMT -0800)
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