They usually just make the situation worse. If they are needed in order to do a medical procedure safely, calmly explain why, solicit consent, and remove them as soon as possible. Privacy Great care should be taken not to physically expose the patient more than the minimum necessary. The patient may perceive examinations done by a doctor with no nurse present as a sexual assault. At times, as a protection in a stressful situation, the patient may appear sexually attracted or even seductive.
Strict professionalism is important.
Due to a type of spontaneous self-hypnosis that is common, it may be difficult to evaluate and treat pain. There may be intermittent absence of pain or lessening of symptoms. Serious conditions may be dangerously minimized by the patient. On examination, findings related to severity and location of pain may be unreliable. For example, patients have been found to have peritonitis but only mild to moderate pain.