Grateful Patient Fundraising and the Unconscious Bias

This commentary discusses twelve stories in which physicians describe how they have been impacted, for better or worse, by Grateful Patient Fundraising (GPFR). There are clearly a vast array of feelings about this topic in the narratives, which include not only the often-discussed ethical dilemmas on the topic, but also how training and implementation of such programs can enhance or diminish relationships between the patient and their healthcare provider, the healthcare provider and their institution, or in at least one case, the patient and the institution. This commentary seeks to explore the pros and cons of GPFR, a necessity in research fundraising, and how some institutions are making this work. Ultimately each provider must find the balance within themselves on how to proceed with this topic. These narratives explore the authors' various opinions about GPFR.