What to do when your patient is lying to you? A perspective.

Not everyone lies, but patients lie more than we might expect. And we’re not good at detecting it. So, what is one to do, as a healthcare provider, when faced with this reality? Afterall, lies and failure to disclose vital health information can dramatically and disastrously impact our ability to provide quality care. Join me in this podcast as I discuss these issues and provide a perspective on what’s known from the published scientific literature blended with the pragmatism of clinical practice.

NOTE: Patient examples in this podcast episode are representative. They are drawn from composites of multiple clinical cases modified to protect identities and protected health information.   

REFERENCES

Embattled Harvard honesty professor accused of plagiarism | Science | AAAS https://www.science.org/content/article/embattled-harvard-honesty-professor-accused-plagiarism

Levy AG, Scherer AM, Zikmund-Fisher BJ, Larkin K, Barnes GD, Fagerlin A. Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Patient Nondisclosure of Medically Relevant Information to Clinicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(7):e185293. Published 2018 Nov 2. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5293

Palmieri JJ, Stern TA. Lies in the doctor-patient relationship. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;11(4):163-168. doi:10.4088/PCC.09r00780