April 14, 2005

Trust: Why patients stay away

Members of minority groups often do not get the latest medical drugs and interventions, according to a study released by the American Heart Association. There are many theories as to why, but most experts agree that it is up to doctors and the health care establishment to lead the effort to break down walls that make people distrust physicians. \"We can\'t care for patients until they understand you care about them,\" says Dr. John Flack, professor and associate chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, where he is training the next generation of heart specialists. He tells students to answer patients with \"yes, sir\" and \"yes, ma\'am\" and \"to convey to people (that) we\'d care for them like a member of their family.\"

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