Preparing for partnership

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7402.0

BMJ 2003;326 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7402.0

From the editor

Preparing for partnership

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Doctors don't like the idea that they don't put patients first—that they aren't "patient centred" in current jargon. Many doctors, particularly older ones, have sacrificed hundreds of nights'sleep, their health, and even their families to the care ofpatients. How can they not be "patient centred"?

The answer is that being patient centred involves much morethan being dedicated and caring. It's a different way of thinkingand behaving, where doctors and patients work together as truepartners. Neither side finds it easy. This theme issue exploreswhat a true partnership means and looks forward to a time whenthe BMJ itself—very much the property of doctors forits first 160 years—might publish in partnership with patients.

Two images illustrate how doctors are not patient centred. Thefirst is the hospital car park, always a political battleground.Can anybody imagine a supermarket car park where customershave to walk . . . [Full text of this article]

Richard Smith, editor

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