I have seen physicians greet a patient, give up, go and write in the chart that the patient was unresponsive, and only then, heard the patient respond. On an ethical basis, I advocate that any patient be asked the big questions about restraining medical intervention and permission for invasive procedures, no matter how unresponsive they appear. And those with behavior problems Fear causes violence. Do everything you can think of to avoid giving a disturbed person a reason to fear you. Sit down if you can and maybe even bow your head a little.
Demented people are often over-sensitive to body language as verbal language declines.
Explain what you are going to do before you do it. In difficult situations, enlist help to distract while you examine. Go to top Including attending physicians Attending physicians, like demented people, are never wrong. You can change the subject, but you can't face them down. Move cautiously and circumspectly in their presence.