News: An etiquette-based approach to medicine

Teaching simple good manners is an important part of good medical training, according to an article by Michael W. Kahn, MD, in The New York Times (12/2/08). The Boston psychiatrist believes that respectful and professional physician behavior comforts patients. As an example of what he calls an "etiquette-based approach" to practicing medicine, Dr. Kahn proposed a six-step checklist for doctors to follow when meeting a hospitalized patient for the first time: