Patients as customers

No one would argue that hospitals and doctors should not be responsive to patients' concerns. But a business model that says the consumer is always right can clash with what is best for a patient, especially in the area of mental health.

A good commentary about how always trying to please patients can go against their best interests.

During fellowship I saw a patient who was missing a ton of school for some vague nasal/sinus symptoms. I told him clearly he had to go to school every day and we'd work on helping him feel better.

Near the end of the school year I got a call from a very insistent dad that I sign a form justifying more than 30 days of missed school. I refused, as I'd specifically told him that he should not miss school. The dad went to patient relations who got the attending I saw him with (I was still a fellow) to sign. The attending said straight out it was the wrong thing to do, but it wasn't worth fighting