There was a time when a 'doente' would visit his regular 'doutor' to obtain relief for his ailments. The visit would usually be medical as well as social. All matters under the sun would likely be discussed. What was discussed during the visit would invariably remain confidential. This encouraged the doente to provide a fuller medical history, and this in turn assisted the doutor in making a more informed diagnosis.
At the end of the 'visit', the doutor scribbled a prescription, the doente made a 'pagamento', picked up the prescription, purchased the 'medicinas' at a nearby farmacia and commenced the treatment. This represents the picture of the classic doutor-doente relationship around which modern medicine was built. Q: So, when did this confidential doutor-doente relationship start to disintegrate? A: Possibly, when greed for Money, More Money and even More Money made its appearance. jc ......to be continued
