Difficult patients. I don't like them. It's not just kids who cry even with the slightest touch. It's the patient who refuses undergoing physical exams because the doctor at the other clinic already did that. It's the informant who keeps butting in because she thinks the patient is incompetent in answering our questions. It's the parent who doesn't say it out right but is clearly annoyed that they have to wait more for the consultant. It's the patient who refuses to answer history questions because they have been interviewed numerous times and it's already written on the chart.

Still, we must perform our task. I feel for their frustration at the system but that's the trade-off for consulting at a teaching hospital. When I'm in a bad mood, I become stern and just finish the damn thing as quickly as possible Or if we're working in pairs, I sign off and just volunteer for the PE. The best though is put on your best smile, provide a good explanation on the matter and project that you know your stuff. They'd often come around and at the end of the visit, they even thank you for all your help.

Although in one recent patient, the patient thought we were just playing around or something so she was angry and shit but then when she realized that we are going to be the actual "doctors," she became much nicer. Even thanked us after the visit.

Still difficult patients, I don't like them.