ABSTRACT
The relationship between patients and healthcare professionals is a crucial aspect of healthcare. This chapter discusses the metaphors that are used by patients on the one hand and healthcare professionals on the other to describe their mutual relationships. It considers that implications of the main metaphor patterns identified for a better understanding of both patients' and professionals' experiences, attitudes and perspectives, and for fostering better relationships. The chapter considers three broad topic areas where metaphors play a role in both datasets, but where differences between the two groups are important. The areas include: descriptions of members of the other group; descriptions of what healthcare professionals do for patients; and descriptions of particularly sensitive aspects of the relationship. The chapter provides discussion on the interactions with healthcare professionals in the patient data, and emotional involvement with patients for healthcare professionals.
