ABSTRACT
The outcome of a consultation is different for doctor and patient, because each has different objectives. The patient may have come simply to be given a diagnosis, or may be in need of reassurance that all is well physically, or may have a more complicated psychosocial problem that needs to be assessed. The doctor’s objective is to explore the patient’s problems, decide whether there is a hidden agenda or not, make a diagnostic hypothesis, and offer advice on the next steps that need to be taken.
