Dr. House Video Clip Illustrating Doctor-Patient Communication Problems

In this classic video clip, Dr. House interviews a patient with asthma. Their interaction illustrates the problem of communication between doctor and patient that unfortunately too often occurs.

Errors in doctor-patient communication as shown by this video clip:

• Doctors assume that patients know how to use medications (or understand treatments) when they don't.
• Patients assume that they know how to use medications (or understand treatments) even if they don't.
• Doctors can be intimidated by patients who appear to know/understand their medical treatments when they truly don't.
• Patients can feel insulted when a doctor assumes they don't know how to use medications (or understand treatments) when they shouldn't because they really don't.

I feel Dr. House perfectly handled this particular situation... though it is unclear what he said AFTER the patient demonstrated how she uses inhalers.