Volume 66 Number 4  September 1999	back to contents

On Establishing Trust	262
Christine Kajubi
Student, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Address correspondence to Christine Kajubi, Strong-Memorial Hospital, PGY-1, Department of Internal Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642.

ABSTRACT
Mutual understanding and trust are most easily attained between persons who share a common cultural background. Persons of color often see physicians as members of an alien culture who are not to be trusted. Physicians can and should transcend cultural barriers and secure the trust of patients of color. To do this, a common culture is not required; effort, kindness and sympathy are.

KEY WORDS
 Medical ethics, physician-patient relationship, physician communication, minorities, health care

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