The gastroenterologist-patient relationship.

A strong doctor-patient relationship is a vital need, especially in gastroenterology, a specialty fraught with problems of ambience, logistics, invasiveness of both diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, and frequent inclusion in therapeutic trials. Studies designed to assess the degree of emotion aroused by endoscopic examination show the sensitivity of many patients to them and the emotion also generated at times in the endoscopist. In this era of rapid technological advancement, it is essential to pursue this problem at the cultural level. The solution lies both in greater maturity on the part of the patient and in the psychological as well as technological training of gastroenterologists so that they may regain the status of "complete" doctor.