The r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit is very widely known around the internet. Currently, it has around 7.8 million members, who share stories about being slightly inconvenienced in various situations.

For some folks, their interactions with their doctors left such a bad taste in their mouths that they wanted to call out their less-than-exemplary behavior.

Ideally, we’d want every doctor to have good communication and leadership skills. But the reality is that not everyone has them. Some medical professionals simply don’t have enough experience interacting with their patients. Others might simply have low emotional intelligence or lack empathy.

Still, other doctors might not see the point in being kind or genuinely caring about their patients.

It can’t be understated how much empathy and proper communication can help patients. They’re naturally worried about their health, procedures, treatments, surgeries, and futures.

They’re anxious. They’re scared. In these situations, many people need emotional support. So, how a doctor delivers a diagnosis or phrases things becomes just as important—if not more so—than the actual information they’re delivering.

Take a moment to imagine a physician who bluntly tells their patient that they might have a horrendous disease versus one who gently explains what’s happening, explains all the options available, and provides them with realistic hope.

The news will come as a shock either way, but in the latter case, the patient might be left with more determination and a feeling that their doctor will have their back, come hell or high water. A touch of empathy can be the difference between hope and devastation.

According to Michigan Instruments, the foundation of any successful relationship between doctors and their patients is made up of trust. A professional who is empathetic, genuinely cares about their patients, and actively listens to them is going to build that trust.

Meanwhile, someone who is completely detached from their patients won’t inspire much trust at all. In the former case, patients are more likely to follow through with their treatment plans and medical advice.

To put it simply, patients who know their doctors care about them and their welfare are more likely to listen to what they tell them they should do.

They’ll be more likely to follow through with any medication regimens and attend follow-up appointments. They’ll actually listen when their physicians tell them to eat better and move more, which should prevent some health problems in the future.

Empathetic doctors are good for absolutely everyone. Their patients will be more likely to get better and won’t clog up the system, meaning experts won’t be as overworked.

The doctors with good bedside manners will have a good reputation, which, by extension, will improve the standing of their workplace, bringing in more business and investments. And, on a wider scale, fewer sick people and more trust in the community are good for society as a whole.

St. George’s University School of Medicine points out that some people are naturally good communicators. However, communication, like any other skill, is something that can be learned and developed. It will happen slowly, over time, as medical experts interact with their patients. However, prospective medics can learn proper bedside manners during simulations, too.

Another thing to keep front of mind is that few patients are going to have the same medical knowledge as the medical staff. So, doctors need to find a way to explain what’s happening to their patients in a way that’s both informative and easy to understand.

That means using fewer technical terms and medical jargon or at least explaining what everything means in a simple way. The goal is for both sides to be on the same page, not to flex one’s fancy medical degree and the plethora of knowledge they amassed.

We’d like to hear your thoughts on the topic, dear Pandas. What is the worst or weirdest interaction that you’ve ever had with your doctors? What style of communication and skills do you value the most in medical pros?

Do we have any Doctor Pandas here today? If so, what do you personally do to build a sense of trust with your patients? You can share your opinions and experiences in the comments section at the bottom of this post.