Given the choice, many of us would rather be seen by a doctor with personality than one who is cold and business-like. This bedside manner is a big deal for many patients. Folks like to connect with the people taking care of them. In fact, it is significant in litigation, as a charismatic expert witness is more likely to connect with the jury. But, should YOUR doctor have a personality?

The answer to that is largely a matter of personal preference, but there does exist some controversy in the medical profession. A couple of Op-Eds recently discussed some of this controversy. One pointed out that on the one hand patients’ satisfaction goes up if their doctor has the “right amount” of personality, as too much leads to patients calling into questions the doctor’s professionalism and intelligence. The other piece discussed the benefits of empathy training for hospital staff.

As a practical matter, many of the calls we get from injured patients include some complaint of the bedside manner of the physician or hospital staff. There does not exist a claim for “rudeness” in Washington’s medical negligence statutes, but physicians groups and liability insurers recognize there are benefits to demonstrating empathy – not quite personality, but certainly not being rude either. Historically, a disrespectful doctor is more likely to be accused of negligence than one that is not rude. It might not just be the personal interfacing – it could well be that disrespectful providers are more likely to injure a patient.

Research into empathy training demonstrates on the one hand patient satisfaction goes up, but so does physician satisfaction. In turn, physician burnout gets reduced. And finally, the combination of all of these factors results in a decrease in medical liability claims.