Abstract

ORELLANA-PENA, Cecilia; OLMOS-OLMEDO, Juan Manuel; ROJAS-DE LA VEGA, Juan José  and  REBOLLEDO-GARCIA, Enrique. PATIENT OVEREXPOSURE IN TEACHING HOSPITALS: THE EXPERIENCE IN A MEDICAL SERVICE FACILITY. pers.bioét. [online]. 2011, vol.15, n.1, pp.78-89. ISSN 0123-3122.

Introduction: Practical training in medicine at hospitals has led to an overpopulation of students and, oftentimes, to patient exhaustion. The authors believe professors in a clinical environment face a conflict of interests: respect for the patient's condition versus teaching. It is suggested that a climate conducive to learning and discovery of the person behind each set of clinical symptoms can be created if students and teachers know how they are perceived by patients. Objectives: To understand the reaction students provoke in patients and to indicate whether there is a prudent maximum amount of interviews per patient. A cohort of patients at a medical service facility was interviewed. The results of those interviews indicate: 1) patients identify the student-patient relationship as one of mutual benefit; 2) they believe the limit on interviews should be set by each patient, 3) patients know they can refuse to cooperate; and 4) doing so does not predispose them negatively. Conclusions: 1) The opportunity to interview a patient, or not, is determined by the patient. 2) It is essential to seek informed consent in teaching. 3) The teacher's role is that of an active observer of the student-patient duo, promoting the virtues of coexistence among students and intervening if due trust or confidentiality are compromised.

Keywords : Informed consent; communication in health; patient; teachers.

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