Patients who always disagree with you

We are in no way suggesting that we should not be advocates of humane, scientifically based orthodox medicine and one gets the impression that even those patients who largely disagree with orthodox medicine keep coming back for advice, suggesting they also expect us to continue to do so. What we are advancing is an argument that our privileged background gives us a perspective that we cannot blame our patients for failing to share. Furthermore, our treatment style is a product of a particular time and place and must be changeable because of the scientific impetus behind medical practice. Because as GPs we live with uncertainty, we owe an open mind to our patients. Nevertheless we must advise them that when they venture into the world of the alternative they should avoid the expensive, the potentially harmful, and treatments that replace a safe conventional therapy about which we can show proof of benefit.