Approach to doctors as patients

Why do doctors don't want to be patient or don't have a GP?
- embarrassment, concerns about confidentiality
- the culture of medicine is one of working through illness; an image of invincibility is encouraged and vulnerability is denied.

What are the pitfalls for the doctor treating a doctor patient?
- Treating the doctor - patient more as a colleague than a patient
- Having higher expectations for recovery, compliance and participation in treatment
- Corner may be cut in assessment, examination explanation and follow up as a result of the collegiate relationship

What other differences are there when you are looking after a doctor as patient?
- Ensure that your doctor patient is fit to work and is not putting patients at risk. If you think that he/she is unfit to work, you may have to report them to the relevant authority. This issue has to be handled carefully and reporting them to the relevant authority does not mean that they can't practice. It means that they may need to practice under certain condition.

References:
- http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctorswhoarepatientsjanuary2010.pdf_62126868.pdf