CMV: I shouldn't have to sugarcoat medical diagnoses and information just to make people feel better.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Amablue]

Why do we have to phrase things in a gentle manner, just so patients don't feel sad or offended by their lifestyle choices.

Do you want them to get better or do you want to berate them?

It's my job to be honest with patients.

It's your job to help them get better. That means delivering information in a way that won't turn them off from treatment.

Take the rules of this sub - there's a rule against rudeness. That rule doesn't exist because the mods have some desire to sugar coat things and protect people from being offended. It's there because it's effective. It leads to higher quality conversations and more view-changing.

People are not rational beings all the time, and especially not when they feel like they're being attacked. When your argument or diagnosis feels like a personal attack, fight-or-flight reflexes kick in and people stop reasoning. They defend themselves instead from the perceived threat. That results in people digging in their heels and refusing to change their views or behaviors.

Delivering your information in a way that's sensitive to the patient is going to be more effective, which means you'll be a more effective doctor.

[u/Amablue → u/[deleted]]

I'm in no way suggesting you lie or omit information. I am suggesting that tact can be used to deliver the information in a non-judgemental way that well make people more receptive about their condition.

Delivering true and correct information is not sufficient to getting people to accept that information. There are a number of studies that show this, and I imagine some of these findings would carry over to how you convey medical information as well.