--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would you prefer - a doctor who…" description: "\"What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while you die or one who ignores you while you get better? I suppose it would particularly suck to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/dr-gregory-house-21709_medicine_what-would-you-prefer-a-doctor-who-holds_1044163.jpg" --- # What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while… ![“What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while you die or one who ignores you while you get better? I suppose it would particularly suck to have a doctor who ignores you while you die.” quote by Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/dr-gregory-house-21709_medicine_what-would-you-prefer-a-doctor-who-holds_1044163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/dr-gregory-house-21709_medicine_what-would-you-prefer-a-doctor-who-holds_1044163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/dr-gregory-house-21709_medicine_what-would-you-prefer-a-doctor-who-holds_1044163.jpg) > “What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while you die or one who ignores you while you get better? I suppose it would particularly suck to have a doctor who ignores you while you die.” [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A doctor who neglects patients in crisis is unacceptable; empathy matters even in dire moments. **In simple terms:** Doctors must care, not ignore, patients. Key Takeaway Prioritize empathy in medical care. Themes ethics compassion patient care trust Mood serious empathetic Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - hospital settings - palliative care - emergency rooms Key Concepts medical professionalism bedside manner Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance empathy with workload? - What policies ensure patient dignity? A Different Perspective Sometimes resources limit personal attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) ## Related quotes > [ It seems to me that your doctor \[Tronchin\] is more of a philosopher than a physician. 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That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) John Randolph of Roanoke > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [“As a special branch of general philosophy, pathogenesis had never been explored. In my opinion it had never been approached in a strictly scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/as-a-special-branch-of-general-philosophy-pathogenesis-had-never-been/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) ## More by Dr Gregory House > [Steve McQueen without hair? It's a blessing he died young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/steve-mcqueen-without-hair-it-s-a-blessing-he-died-young/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [You think I have a hypocritical attitude to hypocrisy? The problem is there are 26 letters in the alphabet, and he only uses two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/you-think-i-have-a-hypocritical-attitude-to-hypocrisy-the-problem-is/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [I don't ask why patients lie. I just assume they all do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/i-don-t-ask-why-patients-lie-i-just-assume-they-all-do/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [I'm sorry, but the fact that the sexual pleasure center of your cerebral cortex has been over-stimulated by spirochetes is a poor basis for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/i-m-sorry-but-the-fact-that-the-sexual-pleasure-center-of-your/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Why is one simpler than two? It's lower, it's lonelier, but is it simpler? Each one of these conditions is about a thousand to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/why-is-one-simpler-than-two-it-s-lower-it-s-lonelier-but-is-it/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Hey, I can be a jerk to people I haven't slept with. I am that good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/hey-i-can-be-a-jerk-to-people-i-haven-t-slept-with-i-am-that-good/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Listen, I saved his life. That means I get credit for every life he saves from here on out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/listen-i-saved-his-life-that-means-i-get-credit-for-every-life-he/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Every minute that we refuse to love one another, another puppy cries another tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/every-minute-that-we-refuse-to-love-one-another-another-puppy-cries/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Technical term is narcissism. You can't believe everything is your fault unless you also believe you're all powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/technical-term-is-narcissism-you-can-t-believe-everything-is-your/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Hello, sick people and their loved ones! In the interest of saving time and avoiding a lot of boring chitchat later, I'm Doctor Gregory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/hello-sick-people-and-their-loved-ones-in-the-interest-of-saving-time/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [He thought he was dying. Dying people lie, too. Wish they'd worked less, they'd been nicer, they'd opened orphanages for kittens. If you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/he-thought-he-was-dying-dying-people-lie-too-wish-they-d-worked-less/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Gimme a reason to get out of this, and I'll tell you who started the rumor about you being a transsexual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/gimme-a-reason-to-get-out-of-this-and-i-ll-tell-you-who-started-the/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [I've been a doctor for years why do I have to keep assuring people I know what I'm doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/i-ve-been-a-doctor-for-years-why-do-i-have-to-keep-assuring-people-i/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [Bizarre is good! Common has hundreds of explanations. Bizarre has hardly any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/bizarre-is-good-common-has-hundreds-of-explanations-bizarre-has/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) > [You're not happy unless things are just right. Which means two things: you're a good boss, and you'll never be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-gregory-house/you-re-not-happy-unless-things-are-just-right-which-means-two-things/) [Dr Gregory House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) [Explore all 28 Dr Gregory House quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-gregory-house/) ## More Doctor quotes > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“As a special branch of general philosophy, pathogenesis had never been explored. In my opinion it had never been approached in a strictly scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/as-a-special-branch-of-general-philosophy-pathogenesis-had-never-been/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/) John Randolph of Roanoke > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [Thankfully, I found a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in New York, Scott Hammer, who diagnosed my chronic fatigue as the Epstein-Barr virus, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-halpern/thankfully-i-found-a-doctor-at-presbyterian-hospital-in-new-york/) [Tucker Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-halpern/) > [My parents are so supportive of whatever we want to do and completely nurtured that, and they're so proud of that as well. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-john-kamen/my-parents-are-so-supportive-of-whatever-we-want-to-do-and-completely/) [Hannah John-Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-john-kamen/) > [Before we can wave the handkerchief, we have to have a cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/before-we-can-wave-the-handkerchief-we-have-to-have-a-cold/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) > [Tuberculosis, starvation, fatigue, and there are many who have no desire to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/tuberculosis-starvation-fatigue-and-there-are-many-who-have-no-desire/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) [Browse all 3,922 Doctor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What would you prefer - a doctor who holds your hand while you die or one who ignores you while you get better? 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