What’s in a name?
BMJ 2008; 337 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a687 (Published 15 July 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a687
All rapid responses
Ms (Mrs? Dr? Lady?) Medrington is absolutely right about the
inequality of using patients first names; more acceptable if the doctor
uses their own first name.
It is clearly acceptable to address children by their first name but
the age of crossover to the more formal surname address is difficult to
guage.I use the age 18 , but some of the younger ones look at me in
incredulity when I address them as Mr X.
One significant problem is the number of people who stand up in the
waiting room when I ask for Mr Jones. I am also unsure how to address the
large number of women of uncertain marital status. "Ms" does not seem very
satisfactory, so I tend to mumble it. I wonder how the Germans solve this ?
Competing interests:
An ambigous first name
Competing interests: No competing interests
Ms Medrington is right to expect civility when being greeted by
doctors, who should not take liberties of unwelcome familiarity (1).
In Austria the traditional courtesies are still rigorously observed
when addressing a patient.
In Australia the patients called me Doctor John; I called them all
"Mate". The Sheilas loved it.
(1) BMJ 2008;337:a687
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Sickness is not only an injury to the body and the mind, but also an injury to
the ego. Since the ego enables patients to deal with reality, doctors must do all
they can to support the patient’s ego. One way of supporting the ego is to
allow for regression in the service of the ego, so that the patient can feel a
measure of childlike safety and comfort. Therefore, it is sometimes helpful to
allow, but not force, patients to regress by calling them by their first name. Of
course, this must be done selectively and carefully, with all due respect to the
patient’s wishes and sensitivities. Also, it is wise for doctors to remember that
their title is not an entitlement, but a responsibility.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
As an anaesthetic registrar I introduce myself to up to ten patients
in a normal working day during the pre-operative consultation. By default
I address all patients who are substantially older than myself as "Mr" or
"Mrs". I find those who prefer to be addressed by their first name will
soon tell me so ("Call me Doris, dear, not Mrs Smith!"), while those of a
more traditional mindset feel they are being treated with dignity and
respect.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Author's reply
In response to your other question, re what to do with
all the Mr Joneses who stand up in the waiting room when called, I suggest
you call out a patient's first and last name initially and then, at the
beginning of the consultation, establish their preferred form of address
as well as check correct pronounciations (of unfamiliar names).
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests