Creative piece - Mr X

Following an interview with a patient, Mr X, I began to think about the doctor-patient relationship and whether it can have an effect on health outcomes. As in his case, many patients want to be more involved in making decisions about their healthcare. One of Mr X’s main issues with his healthcare was that he felt he was not being listened to. He felt that he was expected to follow doctors’ recommendations without question and, worryingly, his experiences have discouraged him from addressing subsequent medical issues with his doctor.    

Treating each patient as an individual with a specific set of values and beliefs leads to greater trust, patient satisfaction, and better health outcomes. My painting depicts what happens when this is not recognised.    

When creating my art piece, my aim was to portray the way many patients feel when they are subjected to a paternalistic approach. The blurred face in this portrait takes away the patient’s individual identity and replaces it with a generic form. The viewer is forced to see him the way a doctor might: simply as ‘young male.’ Without the face serving as the focus of the piece, I wanted to draw attention to the patient’s hands. Clasped hands held over the abdomen are often associated with vulnerability, giving the viewer some insight into how he might be feeling. Medical consultations can be intimidating for some patients and detecting non-verbal cues can help doctors elicit and address the patient’s unresolved concerns.    

I hope that this piece encourages healthcare professionals to reflect on their interactions with patients and consider ways in which they could improve the experience for the patient.