“Whether you’re on the phone, texting or emailing, put it away and give the doctor your undivided attention. You took time away from your life, drove to the office, paid your copay for some valuable information but you’re too busy to listen to what the doctor has to say? Respect your time and respect the doctor’s. I’ve had to walk out on patients who expected me to wait for them to finish their conversation. I have other patients waiting so I move on,” says dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre, of the Pierre Skin Care Institute in Thousand Oaks, CA.

“The appointment time is set aside for you and your concerns. Don’t waste it by trying to get medical advice for someone else: spouse, child, parent, sibling, friend. It doesn’t matter,” says Pierre.

“The doctor has set time aside to focus on you and your health. Why ask medical questions about the person who came with you when that person doesn’t even have an appointment? It’s using up your appointment time, it’s disrespectful of the doctor’s time, it puts him in an awkward position of providing medical advice with limited information, and it takes time away from other patients who have scheduled appointments,” says Pierre.

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