Mandates of Trust in the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Bibliographic Data

ID4697154
AuthorsHelge Skirbekk (0000-0003-0226-7107, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, corresponding author), Anne‐lise Middelthon (University of Oslo), Anne-Lise Middelthon (University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway), Per Hjortdahl (0000-0002-7315-7805, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway), Arnstein Finset (University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway)
Year2011
Volume21
Issue9
Pages1182-1190
Publication date2011-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732311405685
PMID21498826
OpenAlexW2135043968
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited35

We examine the conditions for trust relationships between patients and physicians. A trust relationship is not normally negotiated explicitly, but we wanted to discuss it with both patients and physicians. We therefore relied on a combination of interviews and observations. Sixteen patients and 8 family physicians in Norway participated in the study. We found that trust relationships were negotiated implicitly. Physicians were authorized by patients to exercise their judgment as medical doctors to varying degrees. We called this phenomenon the patient's mandate of trust to the physician. A mandate of trust limited to specific complaints was adequate for many medical procedures, but more open mandates of trust seemed necessary to ensure effective and humane treatment for patients with more complex and diffuse illnesses. More open mandates of trust were given if the physician showed an early interest in the patient, was sensitive, gave time, built alliances, or bracketed normal behavior

Doctor–patient relationship · Epistemology · Family medicine · Mandate · Phenomenon · Political science · Ethics in medical practice · Law · Medical Malpractice and Liability Issues · Medicine · Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare · Psychology