Patient-Physician Relationship in the Age of Expanded Access to Information

To the Editor Drs Kilbride and Joffe discussed how expanded access to medical information and services will change the nature of the patient-physician relationship by enhancing patient autonomy and diminishing the physician ’s role as the gatekeeper to medical information, tests, and interventions. They concluded that the physician will cede power to the patient and shift into the role of an advisor with increased focus on downstream care coordination. This characterization is incomplete; increased access to informat ion does not necessarily foster meaningful autonomy or independence.

Source: JAMA - April 23, 2019 Category: General Medicine Source Type: research