It was a good idea. It still is. But somehow, something’s up with “concordance” in clinical care. This concept was introduced to help modernise how medical advice and interventions are discussed, offered, and decided on between professionals and patients. Sadly, though, it remains widely misunderstood and misused.

Concordance challenged traditional models of health care, where the professional dictated treatment that the patient was expected to accept without questioning or complaint. The patient’s failure to show such compliance was seen as a key reason why treatment might …