Trust: The Scarcest of Medical Resources

Abstract

In this paper, I claim that the doctor-patient relationship can be viewed as a vessel of trust. Nonetheless, trust within the doctor-patient relationship has been impaired by managed care. When we conceive of trust as social capital, focusing on the role that it plays in individual and social well-being, trust can be viewed as a public good and a scarce medical resource. Given this, there is a moral obligation to protect the doctor-patient relationship from the cost-containment mechanisms that compromise its ability to produce trust.

Effect of different recovery modalities on anaerobic power in off-road cyclists

“…Some authors explain the psychological effects of massage on athlete's trust in the treatment [15,19]. On the contrary some authors admit there is evidence of psychological regeneration following massage by monitoring for perceived recovery [6,12].…”

Enhancing Patients' Trust in the Virtual Home Healthcare Nurse

“…This tends to lead to a much lower level of trust that has been shown to actually discourage illness-prevention behaviors. 28,29 Instead of trusting providers with their personal health information, patients may not disclose complete information, thereby risking their subsequent diagnoses or treatments based on inaccurate information.…”

Suffering and euthanasia: a qualitative study of dying cancer patients’ perspectives

“…Why the patients expressed different levels of trust might depend on personal experience and personality traits. Trust seems to be a vital issue to address with patients [42,43], but a report by the Cochrane collaboration has shown difficulties in increasing trust, despite several studies with different interventions [44]. However, awareness among healthcare staff of a possible lack of trust among patients might still be of use in improving communication and shaping the care of the patient.…”