As a child, Hilda Bastian remembers learning clearly that part of being "good" at the doctor's was to say whatever he or she wanted to hear. But now it worries her that as the better equipped patients corner more and more of their doctors' time, the people who need to rely most on the doctor and find it hard to be assertive could lose out.
Evidence shows that not being liked by doctors and nurses affects your health care. The patient bringing in information from the internet has now joined the ranks of patients who are commonly disliked.
Obviously, this has to change, writes the author. But we need to consider the question of how to be a "good patient" in the context of what it will do to the dynamics of the doctor-patient encounter.
Doctors talk more to the patients they identify with and like. A lack of rapport has been identified as one of the major reasons that people from lower socioeconomic groups or of a different race to their doctor have worse health outcomes, she adds.
"By 2013, I hope we know how to cultivate more mutual, trusting relationships between doctors and all kinds of patients. Just how demanding can we get before we blow it for ourselves – not to mention take more than our fair share?"