ON BEING SICK AND FAMOUS
In: Political psychology: journal of the International Society of Political Psychology, Band 5, Heft 1, S. 69-81
ISSN: 0162-895X
PATIENTS WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND SOCIAL AND POLITICAL POSITION PRESENT A SERIES OF DILEMMAS TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE. REFERRALS, ADMISSION, TREATMENT PLANNING, AND DISCHARGE CAN EVOLVE INTO A SCENARIO IN WHICH EXTRA-CLINICAL FACTORS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART. THESE EXTRA-CLINICAL FEATURES, WHICH CAN INCLUDE ATTENTION TO THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL POSITION OF THE PATIENT, INFLUENCE ASPECTS OF THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATISHIP SUCH AS THE CONTRACT AND ALLIANCE. THEY ARISE BECAUSE THE PATIENTS STIMULATE CLINICIANS' ATTITUDES ABOUT POWER, REPUTATION, AND CONTROL. EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT CALLS FOR ATTENTION TO THESE STRAINS ON THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. EXAMPLES OF THE CARE OF TWO PRESIDENTS, WINSTON CHURCHILL, JOHN PAUL II, THE SHAH, AND ARTISTS AND WRITERS DEMONSTRATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCENARIO FOR THESE PATIENTS WHO CHALLENGE CARETAKERS' EXPERTISE AND COMMON SENSE.