2A COMMUNICATIVE Ask the doctor

2A COMMUNICATIVE Ask the doctor

A Role-play 1 You’re a family doctor. B is your patient. You’ve just finished medical school, and today is your first day in this surgery. You feel very enthusiastic! At medical school, they taught you to find out as much as you can about a patient when you first meet them. You’re a great believer in alternative medicine like homeopathy and acupuncture. You really believe that some conditions can be better treated using alternative remedies, e.g. hypnotherapy for people with phobias or weight problems. • Find out as much information as you can about the patient, e.g. age, job, family life, previous illnesses, operations, etc. • Ask the reason for today’s visit. Find out how long he / she has had this problem. • You don’t like the medicine the patient usually takes, Calmozone. You prefer a natural, homeopathic one called Tranquilium. B will start. B Role-play 1 You’re a patient. A is your family doctor. You haven’t been to the doctor’s for about a year, so you’re really surprised to see that you have a new family doctor. He / she’s very young! What experience does he / she have? You’d known your previous doctor all your life. He knew all about your fear of flying and was very sympathetic to the problem. You’re going on holiday next week – by plane. Your old doctor always prescribed Calmozone, a tablet which relaxes you when you fly. If you take two before the plane takes off, you don’t feel nervous. You know what you want – Calmozone! If you don’t get it, you can’t go on holiday. You aren’t very convinced by alternative remedies, especially hypnotherapy and homeopathy! • Answer any questions the doctor asks you. Explain the reason for today’s visit. • Ask the doctor to prescribe Calmozone and explain why you need it. • Only accept an alternative remedy you feel completely happy with. You start the conversation. Good morning doctor. You’re new, aren’t you? Role-play 2 You’re a patient. B is your family doctor. You know your doctor very well because you make an appointment to see him / her at least once a week. You’re a favourite patient! You think of him / her as a friend and that’s why you call him / her by his / her first name (Chris) and not Dr Jones. • Today, you’ve made an appointment with the doctor because you’ve got some very strange symptoms (decide what they are), and you’re convinced that you have a problem with your heart. You want the doctor to take you seriously and agree with what you think is the problem. • Explain all your symptoms to the doctor. • Ask the doctor to check your blood pressure and

• Tell him / her that you’d like to see a specialist. Be prepared to argue with him / her if necessary. You start the conversation. Hi Chris. How are you? Role-play 2 You’re a family doctor. A is your patient. You’re fed up and exhausted! The government spending cuts mean that today you’ve worked for eight hours on your own in the surgery and there’s still paperwork to do. You want to go home! Unfortunately, you have one more patient to see and he / she is a nightmare! He / She comes to see you at least once a week, always with a different problem. You think he / she is a hypochondriac. For some reason, this patient always calls you by your first name. You hate that! • Ask him / her not to call you by your first name.

Ask him / her to call you Dr Jones. • Ask him / her what his / her symptoms are (this week!) and how long he / she has had them. • Give your diagnosis (decide what you think) and