THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IN THE ERA OF E-HEALTH

Abstract

The doctor-patient relationship is one of the most complex interpersonal relationships in that it involves individuals who are not on the same level, it has not been sought by both individuals, it is emotionally loaded, and it requires close mutual cooperation towards a shared goal. The digital revolution will have a profound impact on how physicians and healthcare delivery organizations interact with patients and the community at large. In the following years, personal contact between patients and doctors will become increasingly rare, and exchanges between consumers and providers will be progressively mediated by electronic devices, from which trust will suffer continually. Unfortunately, this progress has also had a negative impact on physician-patient relations, data protection, and the role of physicians. The main goals of this commentary are to describe the influence of digitalization in the form of eHealth on the doctor-patient relationship. It will be essential that clinicians, managers, policymakers, and researchers gain an increased understanding of this trend so that healthcare systems around the globe can adapt, adopt, and embrace these rapidly evolving digital technologies.