No two patients are alike. But the longer you work as a physician, the more you notice patterns in the types of patients you treat. They make you laugh, make you cry, make you want to pull your hair out and, at times, remind you of exactly why you got into this line of work. No matter what, you can always count on them to liven up your task.

Where would you be without this colourful cast of characters to care for? Keep reading to see how many of these types of patients you would have treated throughout your career.

The self-diagnozer

You know this patient. This is the one who is convinced they’ve contracted a rare disease.

If a diagnosis was really that easy, then medical professionals would be out of the job. Thankfully physicians are there to field the questions and help correct the diagnoses when they go a little overboard.

“This patient is sure they have something rare, trendy and difficult to treat”. “They are often disappointed when they don’t have multiple specialists asking them insightful questions they’ve already prepared answers for.”

The one with the overbearing family

Here’s another one you’re likely to see. You know the drill—walking into a patient’s room chock full of visiting family members. All eyes shift to you. In an instant they bombard you with a litany of questions. Or they try to speak for their fully capable family member in a misguided attempt at showing they care.

“These patients are typically sweet and laid back, unlike everyone related to them”. “Often, family members ignored them until they got really sick and are now trying to make up for it at your expense.”

The one you get attached to

You’ve been told not to get attached to your patients, but the head and the heart don’t always agree. You’ll likely find yourself remembering special patients long after they’re gone. Whether it was their optimistic outlook, or the way you bonded before a big surgery, some patients occupy a special place in your heart.

The skeptic

These incredulous patients are always looking for a second opinion. They may come into their appointment with medical knowledge after a little online research. However, this patient is hesitant to accept any of your explanations or advice, questioning your every move.

Sometimes you can’t blame them—if they’ve been from doctor to doctor only to be hurried through the system and placed on some drug that works on most people.

The one that never goes to the doctor

You know this patient—They’re rarely happy to see doctors and think their time would be better spent elsewhere: Running errands, finishing that project at home or a million other excuses. And they can’t remember the last time they had an appointment for a check up..

Indolent patients

You know this patient-these are individuals who do not take much interest in describing their ailments because of the following reasons –lack of interest or laziness ,not to trouble others by his complaints, false modesty etc

Hypochondriacs and hypersensitive patients

Hypochondriac patients imagine complaints because of their nervousness and morbid fear, whereas the hypersensitive patients intensify the symptoms because they want prompt relief.

The one who reminds you why you do what you do

Even on your toughest days when nothing seems to go right, there will always be the patients who remind you of why you responded to the call of medicine and took up the rigor and reward of the field.

Whether it’s the humbling moments of your toughest patients fighting for their lives, the patients who are truly grateful for your care or simply knowing you made someone’s time in the hospital a brighter experience, these special patients come into your life again and again to remind you of why you first became a doctor.

SHAIK MOHAMMAD ASHRAF
THIRD BHMS
JIMS HMC