Managing Trust Through Negotiation in Doctor-patient Discourses -Evidence from Neurosurgery Clinic
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Doctor-patient relationship has always been a highly valued issue in our society. In recent years, violence against medical staff in hospitals has been on the rise in various regions of China, and the relationship between doctors and patients seems to be getting strongly intensified. The vast majority of doctor-patient disputes are caused by inadequate and inappropriate communication during the process of medical services. Negotiation System and Empathy shed light on how to regulate and improve doctor-patient communication in clinical encounters.Based on 10 recorded conversations between patients and one doctor, this essay discusses how moves are organized by the doctor and patients, and how the doctor applies the theory of Empathy to show her concern and care for patients. This paper finds that though the doctor has profound medical knowledge, she chooses to be equal with patients, solving their problems with a low profile, and communicates with less dominant moves. Meanwhile, doctors sharing some of their power with patients is beneficial for managing trust in doctor-patient relations, which is a crucial but often neglected aspect of medical care.