Frequently we hear of a medical provider’s inability to sympathize with a patient in his or her care. This lack of compassion in conversing and understanding a patient’s needs is considered a poor “bedside” manner.

A worthwhile professional whether in the legal or medical field must know how to adequately discuss the problems their clients or patients face with their trusted caregiver. In fact a great deal of debate within the academic community nationwide is whether the topic of client/patient dialogue should be addressed in the form of necessary coursework prior to obtaining a legal or medical degree.

We in the public too often take for granted that one who has been educated through a post secondary education will have the required ability to simply speak with those in their care in a way that is both easily understood and in a way that conveys needed compassion.

It seems contradictory that one would spend years in law or medical school to become a lawyer or doctor if not for a desire to come to the aid of one in need of professional care.

However, too frequently our professional ranks have become populated by those who may have other priorities foremost in their thoughts. Those objectives could include financial goals, a need for status or a need to scale back on a work schedule they feel inhibits an enjoyment of personal life needs.

It usually is fairly easy to identify those professionals who have become either “burnt out” from their profession or never had the required passion to begin with.

Such lawyers or doctors are those that are prone to make one feel as if a nuisance if calling them. They may act put out and defensive if questioned as to the course of medical treatment or legal strategy. Most importantly, one can typically identify these people as those who have only demonstrated a desire to help if that aid came with a price tag.

When put within the clutches of such a “caregiver” many people feel trapped. They don’t know whether they truly have alternatives or if the next doctor or lawyer will act in a similar manner.

They may feel as though they will be passed on to another provider with the reputation as a troublemaker for whom no other legal or health care professional will wish to work with.

None of this is the case. It is important to know that a legal or medical professional’s inability to promote proper dialogue with a patient or client whether intentional or not is unacceptable.

Fortunately, there are many professionals available within all communities who have the desire to help those within their care as well as the willingness to converse adequately in pursuit of that care.

It seems odd to suggest that many lawyers in particular must become versed in the art of simply speaking properly to a trusting client. However, speaking words of legalese to judges or showing respect to those within a public courtroom is often far different from taking the time to enable a client to understand one’s legal options when no one is observing the professional’s conduct.

It is often declared that character is how one behaves when no one is watching or how one treats another who can be of no benefit to the individual.

In the case of professional dialogue it is necessary to place character above all else when selecting or staying with an attorney who may have demonstrated that it is financial gain that has been valued above a passionate pursuit of justice.