The Physical Exam

"The importance of the ritual of one patient baring his or her soul and body cannot be underestimated. Rituals are terribly important to human beings because they signify transformation. This is how you earn your right to say, 'I am your doctor.' If as a doctor you shortchange the ritual, you end up making patients feel you aren’t interested. They lose trust.” ~Dr. Abraham Verghese

Read the whole article, Lessons from the Bedside Exam in the NY Times.