--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a doctor, I worry that the patient…" description: "\"Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg" --- # Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be… ![“Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic violence - these are serious topics many people don't want to talk about. I'll try to follow up with questions like: How are things at…” quote by Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg) > “Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic violence - these are serious topics many people don't want to talk about. I'll try to follow up with questions like: How are things at home? How's work? But we don't always have time to probe. Don't be afraid to bring up the important things going on in your life, even if they don't feel 'medical.' Your doctor would rather know than not know.” [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physicians should address sensitive topics even when time‑pressed, because patient wellbeing depends on it. **In simple terms:** Talk about tough issues despite constraints. Key Takeaway Prioritize holistic care. Themes medicine communication patient safety Mood concerned empathetic Type clinical educational When to use this quote - primary care - mental health - emergency visits Key Concepts clinical empathy trust building Questions to Reflect On - How can doctors efficiently explore sensitive subjects? - What strategies improve patient openness? A Different Perspective Time limits can hinder thorough questioning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-worry-5891398/) [Domestic violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domestic-violence/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Eating disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-disorder/) [Feel Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-medical-5891400/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Patient Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient-uncomfortable-5891401/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Uncomfortable Sharing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable-sharing-3233796/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-patient-5891399/) ## Related quotes > [I've never been uncomfortable sharing stuff. It's almost the opposite. I'll say the most blunt, brutally honest thing about any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-orange-county/i-ve-never-been-uncomfortable-sharing-stuff-it-s-almost-the-opposite/) [Rex Orange County](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-orange-county/) > [Comment if: you have an eating disorder, anxiety, depression, attempted suicide, you cut your wrists, a disorder, or you feel alone. I wanna follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/comment-if-you-have-an-eating-disorder-anxiety-depression-attempted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is never alone. Acknowledged or unacknowledged, that which dreams through him is always there to support him from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurens-van-der-post/man-is-never-alone-acknowledged-or-unacknowledged-that-which-dreams/) [Laurens van der Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurens-van-der-post/) > [You don't understand...Cutting unless your'e a cutter. Drugs unless your'e a druggie. Suicide unless you've attempted it. Eating disorders unless you've had one. Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-understand-cutting-unless-your-e-a-cutter-drugs-unless-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I just realized that having a problem - an eating disorder - it's not healthy and you can actually die from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-polizzi/i-think-i-just-realized-that-having-a-problem-an-eating-disorder-it-s/) [Nicole Polizzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-polizzi/) > [I was struggling with anorexia, and one of the biggest problems with an eating disorder is you don't realize you have it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-stirling/i-was-struggling-with-anorexia-and-one-of-the-biggest-problems-with/) [Lindsey Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-stirling/) > [In this business, there is an insane amount of pressure, spoken and unspoken, to be thin. If you look at some of the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-raver/in-this-business-there-is-an-insane-amount-of-pressure-spoken-and/) [Kim Raver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-raver/) > [The more people talk about eating disorders, the more people get the real story about what they're like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-pomers/the-more-people-talk-about-eating-disorders-the-more-people-get-the/) [Scarlett Pomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-pomers/) > [ “Emma cites the structure of the \[Eating Disorder\] Unit as being important to her decision to disengage from her illness, and the fact that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-lee/emma-cites-the-structure-of-the-eating-disorder-unit-as-being/) [Carol Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-lee/) > [“In more ancient times the life was simpler, but now the discovery of all these different medicines for curing dyspepsia shows that people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-raghavji-gandhi/in-more-ancient-times-the-life-was-simpler-but-now-the-discovery-of/) [Virchand Raghavji Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-raghavji-gandhi/) > [“We may also discover that sexual abuse helps to explain the high prevalence rates of eating disorders among women and may lend some insight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-duncan/we-may-also-discover-that-sexual-abuse-helps-to-explain-the-high/) [Karen A. Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-a-duncan/) > [I wrote on my website that veganism isn't right for everyone and the first thing you have to consider is nutrition. I was saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-pascoe/i-wrote-on-my-website-that-veganism-isn-t-right-for-everyone-and-the/) [Sara Pascoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-pascoe/) > [If we are ready to tear down the walls that confine us, break the cage that imprisons us, we will discover what our wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-elmore-meegan/if-we-are-ready-to-tear-down-the-walls-that-confine-us-break-the-cage/) [Michael Elmore-Meegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-elmore-meegan/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Anorexia is, without doubt, a serious eating disorder, but there is a hell of a lot of mainstream disordered eating going on out there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-woolf/anorexia-is-without-doubt-a-serious-eating-disorder-but-there-is-a/) [Emma Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-woolf/) ## More by Danielle Ofri > [“In general, empathy is easier the more we can identify with someone. When we can genuinely envision ourselves in a situation, it's possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/in-general-empathy-is-easier-the-more-we-can-identify-with-someone/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“How the sadness is handled by the physician has a powerful impact on the medical care received by the patients. If the grief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/how-the-sadness-is-handled-by-the-physician-has-a-powerful-impact-on/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Burnout also leads to a large swath of physicians who aren't as empathetic toward their patients as they could be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/burnout-also-leads-to-a-large-swath-of-physicians-who-aren-t-as/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Grief ate at these doctors, distracting them from both their families and their patients. Many reported withdrawing from emotional involvement with their patients and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/grief-ate-at-these-doctors-distracting-them-from-both-their-families/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy requires being attuned to the patient's perspective and understanding how the illness is woven into this particular persons' life. Last--and this is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/empathy-requires-being-attuned-to-the-patient-s-perspective-and/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Hospital life--with its byzantine array of moving parts layered atop the unpredictable rhythms of illness--is a permanent state of flux.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/hospital-life-with-its-byzantine-array-of-moving-parts-layered-atop/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Fear is a primal emotion in medicine. Every doctor can tell you of times when she or he was terrified; most can list more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/fear-is-a-primal-emotion-in-medicine-every-doctor-can-tell-you-of/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need-to-keep-tuning-my-skills-as-a/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy--the ability to identify with someone else's suffering--is certainly a prerequisite for a genuine apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/empathy-the-ability-to-identify-with-someone-else-s-suffering-is/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio describes emotions as the "continuous musical line of our minds, the unstoppable humming." This basso continuo thrums along while doctors make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/neuroscientist-antonio-damasio-describes-emotions-as-the-continuous/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Thus, whatever the medical student has been taught, and even genuinely believes, about the ideals of medicine, the primacy of empathy, the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/thus-whatever-the-medical-student-has-been-taught-and-even-genuinely/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“But while the patient does bear some responsibility, I believe that the onus falls more heavily on the doctor to be attuned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-while-the-patient-does-bear-some-responsibility-i-believe-that/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [Doctors are taught in medical school that people ususally underreport their alcohol and drug use, so we genreal double the amount we're told. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/doctors-are-taught-in-medical-school-that-people-ususally-underreport/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Suddenly, I was plunged back into an avid learning environment, starting at the bottom and working my way painstakingly up the mountain. The thrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/suddenly-i-was-plunged-back-into-an-avid-learning-environment/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medical conditions. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is-termed-clinical-curiosity/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) [Explore all 22 Danielle Ofri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## More Domestic violence quotes > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Women's Aid is a fantastic charity which has my full support. I am proud to call myself a Real Man, a man who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-fox/women-s-aid-is-a-fantastic-charity-which-has-my-full-support-i-am/) [Neil Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-fox/) > [It's incredibly dangerous to leave an abuser, because the final step in the domestic violence pattern is: kill her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-morgan-steiner/it-s-incredibly-dangerous-to-leave-an-abuser-because-the-final-step/) [Leslie Morgan Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-morgan-steiner/) > [The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankind's most basic duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/the-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation-of-children-is-one-of-the-most/) [James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/) > [Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/domestic-violence-causes-far-more-pain-than-the-visible-marks-of/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [“A gentle giant, not a sexist or possessive bone in his body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/a-gentle-giant-not-a-sexist-or-possessive-bone-in-his-body/) [The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/) > [I don't know how I can feel safe with Donald Trump, who bragged about sexual assault having the most power of anyone in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/i-don-t-know-how-i-can-feel-safe-with-donald-trump-who-bragged-about/) [Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/) > [“Only those who have been on the receiving end of poverty, unemployment, homelessess, mental illness, domestic violence, racism, sexism or ageism can fully identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/only-those-who-have-been-on-the-receiving-end-of-poverty-unemployment/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [This is not love. It is a crime... You can't look the other way just because you have not experienced domestic violence with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/this-is-not-love-it-is-a-crime-you-can-t-look-the-other-way-just/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [“When people conclude that anger causes abuse, they are confusing cause and effect. Ray was not abusive because he was angry; he was angry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/when-people-conclude-that-anger-causes-abuse-they-are-confusing-cause/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) > [Domestic violence doesn't count when it's in a broken home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/domestic-violence-doesn-t-count-when-it-s-in-a-broken-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does War, Murder, Genocide, Violence, Abuse, Rape, Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women & Children Have In Common? Everything...they all help destroy precious lives!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/what-does-war-murder-genocide-violence-abuse-rape-domestic-violence/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“It's the place where dreams end and nightmares begin—it's the world of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-nawal/it-s-the-place-where-dreams-end-and-nightmares-begin-it-s-the-world/) [Mallika Nawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-nawal/) > [“How she realized at last that not even love could justify this, that no affection could, not ever. Still, in the glass, she sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zo-brigley-thompson/how-she-realized-at-last-that-not-even-love-could-justify-this-that/) [Zoë Brigley (Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zo-brigley-thompson/) [Browse all 433 Domestic violence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domestic-violence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic violence - these are serious topics many people don't want to talk about. I'll try to follow up with questions like: How are things at home? How's work? But we don't always have time to probe. Don't be afraid to bring up the important things going on in your life, even if they don't feel 'medical.' Your doctor would rather know than not know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Danielle Ofri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Domestic violence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/danielle-ofri-26196_domestic-violence_being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient_1567143.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual…” — Danielle Ofri", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Danielle Ofri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being a doctor, I worry that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```