A Doctor Reveals The One Thing He Does That Shocks People But Should Be Standard Practice

A patient with long-standing medical issues had not received clear diagnosis or improvement despite prior testing and treatment. During an examination, he made a geometry-related remark about doctors not facing him directly, noting that visits often involve clinicians looking at a computer rather than maintaining eye contact. He described a pattern of physicians watching the clock and the door, suggesting divided attention. The clinician initially treated the comments as humor, but later reflected on their meaning. The clinician emphasized that looking directly at patients can reveal subtle behaviors such as swallowing, eye movements, and brief avoidance of eye contact, which can provide valuable clinical insight.

"“So I see you're not a fan of Pythagoras,” he said. “This is my first visit in years not from a right angle. Usually the doctor is facing the computer with his gaze fixed ninety degrees to mine.” It was true. When talking to him, as with most of my patients, I had positioned myself directly across from him."

"“I only offer the hypotenuse to my patients,” I said. “Navigating the two legs of a right triangle is never as efficient and productive.” The man smiled broadly and offered how he often had a palpable sense that his physicians have one eye on their computer, the other on the clock, and, if they had a third, it would have been on the door."

"“However, later that evening, with more time to contemplate, his words resonated as deeply profound and disturbing.” In my own practice, I always look directly at the patient. I can vouch for how witnessing an extra swallow, a quick wipe of the corner of the eyes, or simply a short avoidance of eye contact can sometimes provide invaluable insight into a patient's c"

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