“Are you in ISIS?” my patient asked

I pulled on my white coat and straightened my tie before walking into the patient room with my supervising physician, Dr. H. Our patient was a teenage boy with autism, and Dr. H let me take the lead. Towards the end of the visit I asked, as I always do, “Do you have any questions for me?” He had not made eye contact with me throughout the visit, which can be common for kids with autism, but now he turned his whole body into his mother who sat by his side and in a loud whisper said, “I’m worried he will be offended.” His mother held him lovingly as Dr. H, and I encouraged him to speak his mind. “Are you in ISIS?” he asked. Was it my name? My complexion? My beard? My mind was racing to figure out what about me made him think I could be a terrorist. His mother had mentioned that he had been watching a lot of news and would occasionally become very scared and ask her if terrorists might attack them. A terrorist on the popular TV show 24 has a name similar to mine; perhaps my name triggered those images for him? His mother reprimanded him and apologized. I told her no apology was necessary and quickly proceeded to the physical exam. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs