Handy pointers for GPs

It's unreasonable to assume that GPs are being obnoxious on purpose, so in the interest of fairness, here are some handy hints for GPs not to be arseholes.

• If you ask a question, listen to the answer. Asking the same question four times doesn't inspire confidence.
• If you send the patient for tests, book the tests you've been told you need to book.
• Don't refer to a patient's "private parts", it makes you sound like a nervous school kid.
• Not all diseases have read the text book, if the patient reports symptoms that don't match your memory of said text book, don't correct the patient, they probably didn't have the virus (or whatever) conspire to confound you.
• If you're going to write down the results of observations, it's a good idea to actually make them (see next point).
• If you are going to bother to make some observations, try doing it long enough to actually observe something.
• NEVER tell a patient who has come to you because they're in pain, that they are not, in fact, in pain.
• If you tell a patient they need a script, write out the script, without needing to be prompted by the patient. 
• Don't pretend you're a super hero, lines like "Never fear, Dr XXXXX is here" aren't even endearing when you are a good doctor.
• Finally, if the patient has been crying the entire time they've been in your office, don't send them on their way with a cheery "Have a wonderful day!" - it makes you look like an arsehole.

This handy list brought to you by a single visit to a single doctor. He was that good.