How to Answer: How would you handle a patient who was disagreeable, contrary, or downright abusive?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Doctor of Osteopathy job interview.
3. How would you handle a patient who was disagreeable, contrary, or downright abusive?
How to Answer
As a physician, you are frequently exposed to people in pain or to whom unforeseen things happen at the worst possible times. Such people are cranky and this should be seen as understandable...but up to a point. Your answer should reflect the slack you understand should be given such a patient, but also that you know that point beyond which maladaptive behavior becomes unacceptable.
Written by D. Leo on May 15th, 2021
Entry Level
"The only behavior I won't tolerate is when the patient or persons accompanying the patient interfere with my medical management. Such a development needs to be corrected and eliminated, but not with reactionary anger, but with an on-the-fly education into what's at stake."
Written by D. Leo on May 15th, 2021
Answer Example
"No matter the behavior toward me, I always stay on task. You can never go wrong being a lady or a gentleman, and a patient will remember how you reacted even when he or she feels bad in retrospect."
Written by D. Leo on May 15th, 2021
Experienced Level
"An ill-tempered reaction from a patient is understandable, which sometimes can make things ugly. I get that and so should any responsible physician. However, I draw the line at overt abuse, not for me--I can take it, but for others, such as ancillary personnel who are there to help both me and the patient."
Written by D. Leo on May 15th, 2021