A smile a day keeps the lawyers away! : the importance of effective communication in preventing litigation

Abstract

Effective communication is the cornerstone of the doctor/patient relationship. The British Medical Association, in its discussion paper on communication skills education for doctors , highlighted four key benefits of effective communication: • improve the doctor-patient relationship by helping the doctor seek the relevant information and recognise the problems of the patient • help the patient to understand and comply with treatment instructions, thereby improving patient satisfaction • improve patient health - better communication and dialogue between doctor and patient has a beneficial effect in terms of promoting better emotional health, resolution of symptoms and pain control • improve the overall quality of care by ensuring that patients’ views and wishes are taken into account. However, in the blame and claim world in which we live it is also essential to help prevent litigation.