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The Physician as a Patient

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The Impaired Physician

Abstract

One of the most pervasive medical myths involves doctors as patients. Traditionally there have been aphorisms and injunctions from biblical times until the present: “Physician heal thyself!” “The doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient!” The standard hospital stock statement is that doctors and nurses make the worst patients, possibly because there are no surprises left for them in hospitals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., USA

    Carolyn B. Robinowitz (Deputy Medical Director)

Authors
  1. Carolyn B. Robinowitz
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Stephen C. Scheiber

  2. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA

    Brian B. Doyle

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© 1983 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Robinowitz, C.B. (1983). The Physician as a Patient. In: Scheiber, S.C., Doyle, B.B. (eds) The Impaired Physician. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4304-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4304-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4306-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4304-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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