This document discusses strategies for dealing with angry patients. It notes that remaining calm, listening empathetically, and avoiding defensiveness are important. The document recommends letting patients fully express their emotions before responding and using statements of empathy, curiosity and validation rather than judgment. Addressing the meaning and sources of a patient's anger can help defuse tensions. Allowing patients to vent before discussing medical issues and acknowledging relationship difficulties are also suggested.

1. Angry Patient Dr. Waris Qidwai Department of Family Medicine Aga Khan University Karachi

8. Angry Patient The clinician-patient relationship will benefit from such empathetic statements as "sounds like you are quite angry about your diagnosis, tell me more about it”

9. Angry Patient Judgmental statements such as "sounds like the other doctor missed your diagnosis" are not helpful.

10. Angry Patient If the physician feels uncomfortable about a clinician-patient interaction, there is almost always some barrier that is in the way of effective communications.

16. Rationale and Useful Phrases

17. Thank you