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The consultation

Tim Usherwood
Med J Aust 2003; 179 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05423.x
Published online: 7 July 2003

Dr Zen's first words* capture the context perfectly. She and Mr Unger have a fixed time of five minutes available for their consultation, with penalties for Dr Zen if they run over. Dr Zen inquires how "we", not "I", can help. Chillingly, it quickly becomes apparent that "we" includes not just Corporation Enterprise but also their industrial sponsor of clinical guidelines and the manufacturer of Ease.


  • Department of General Practice, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW.


Correspondence: 

  • 1. Marvel MK, Epstein RM, Flowers K, Beckman HB. Soliciting the patient's agenda. Have we improved? JAMA 1999; 281: 283-287.
  • 2. Toon PD. Towards a philosophy of general practice: a study of the virtuous practitioner. London: Royal College of General Practitioners, 1999.
  • 3. Heath I. There must be limits to the medicalisation of human distress. BMJ 1999; 318: 439-440.
  • 4. Sullivan F. Intruders in the consultation. Fam Pract 1995; 12: 66-69.
  • 5. Wilson A, Childs S. The relationship between consultation length, process and outcomes in general practice: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract 2002; 52: 1012-1020.

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