The lost art of consultation—a plea for the return of striped trousers
Richard B. Goldbloom M.D., FRCP (C)1
1 Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax N.S., Canada
Having grown up in a medical household, I remember vividly my late father's reminiscences about the accepted protocol for medical consultation during his early years as a practicing pediatrician in Montreal more than half a century ago. In those days, whenever a second opinion was requested by the patient's family or physician, the family physician made a personal approach to the consultant, preliminary discussion of the problem was held, and a time was established when physician and consultant would convene at the bedside, whether at the home or in hospital.
The details of the consultation rite were formal and unvarying.
