ABSTRACT
How does the clinical encounter begin? Two fellow human beings meet. One requests, the other responds. The request is initiated by the soon-to-be-patient. He brings his wants, needs, pains, and suffering to another who is specially trained, professes to be able to help, and is licensed to do so. At this meeting, the patient tells the physician about his pain and suffering. The physician responds by examining the patient, performing laboratory tests, and prescribing medicine, changes in life style, or surgery. This process adds the new dimension of patienthood to the individual’s suffering. It can only be awarded to a patient after the therapeutic encounter has occurred.
