Bedside manner is a term describing how a healthcare professional handles a patient. A good bedside manner is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient. Vocal tones, body language, openness, presence, and concealment of attitude may all affect bedside manner. Poor bedside manner leaves the patient feeling unsatisfied, worried, alone, or frightened. Bedside manner becomes difficult when a healthcare professional explains to the patient the true diagnosis, while keeping the patient from being alarmed.
Examples in the media
- Dr. Gregory House (of the show House) has a caustic, callous bedside manner, however, this is an extension of his normal personality.
- In Lost, Hurley tells Jack Shephard that his bedside manner "sucks". Later in the episode, Jack is told by his father to put more hope into his sayings, which he does when operating on his future wife.
- In Closer, Larry, the doctor tells Anna when they first meet that he is famed for his bedside manner.
- In Donald Trump's 2008 celebrity apprentice final, Ivanka tells Piers that he did not have a good bedside manner.
- In Scrubs, J.D is a good example of a doctor with great bedside manner, while Elliot Reid is a doctor with poor or non-existent bedside manner.
