Volume 66 Number 4  September 1999	back to contents

Trusting Under Pressure	223 - 228
Laurence Mordekhai Thomas, PH.D.
Professor, Philosophy, Political Science and Judaic Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Address correspondence to Laurence Mordekhai Thomas, Ph.D., 514 Walnut Avenue, Unit #5, Syracuse, NY 13210.

ABSTRACT
This essay explores the idea that it is possible for a patient to feel ill at ease with a health care professional, even though there is no active ill will on the part of the professional. Noting that the relationship between the patient and the health care professional, especially in the case of the physician, is an asymmetrical one, I suggest that it is incumbent upon professionals to take extra steps to insure that the patient feels at ease in the staff-patient encounter, notwithstanding the good will that health professionals may be assumed to have toward patients generally.

KEY WORDS
 Good will, ill at ease, active ill will, trust, hypertension, minority distrust

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