Living with failing lungs: the doctor-patient relationship

Doctors, as gatekeepers of health care resources, were seen to have immense power over the patients' lives. The need to be perceived in a good light by their doctor was intensified by their low self-esteem, poor control of symptoms and their chronic disease status. The majority of patients expressed a need to take a more active part in the decision-making processes involved in the management of their disease. A more balanced doctor-patient relationship could develop if frank and open discussions are based upon a shared decision-making approach.