communication
In parallel with the tremendous bio-technologic revolution that has been the centerpiece of medicine in the 20th century, communication in medicine, or more specifically, the doctor–patient relationship, has also undergone an unprecedented metamorphosis. The unilateral, hierarchical, paternalistic and authoritarian behavior that was the hallmark of physician communication is slowly being transformed into a relationship which is collaborative, autonomous, and patient-oriented. To appreciate the magnitude of this transformation more fully, this article reviews the historical context in which the patient–physician relationship has developed (the past), then discusses the current situation and understandings (the present), and finally entertains new alternatives and approaches (the future).... ...
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