Daily News | When a doctor’s ‘it’s nothing to worry about’ isn’t reassuring l Expert Opinion
One of my longtime patients, a man in his 70s with diabetes and hypertension, looked very worried when I stepped into the exam room to see him. He was recently treated at a local urgent care clinic for an abrasion on the bottom of his foot.“He said it’s nothing to worry about. Just a small clean wound that should clear up in a few days with some topical ointment,” he recounted.
You may have seen comic depictions of ineffective doctor-patient conversations with thought bubble” containing things which are thought but not said. The doctor’s bubble contains his unvoiced diagnostic reasoning, and the patient’s is filled with unspoken worries.
If a doctor tells you, “It’s nothing to worry about” and you do not feel reassured, it’s OK to share your specific concern, even if it did not come up during your initial conversation. It may feel uncomfortable to share additional worries, but your doctor will most likely welcome them. You can also ask for more detail about how the diagnosis was reached and treatment selected. This will help you get the information and reassurance that you truly need.
Jeffrey Millstein, MD, is a primary care physician and regional medical director for Penn Primary Care.