DEAR ABBY: I am a hospitalist, a physician who cares for hospitalized patients. When I enter a patient's room, I invariably find the television blaring. Usually the patient or family members will make no effort to mute the TV, and I must turn it off myself. Because they are paying me to communicate, I would assume they would want to hear what I have to say.
Occasionally patients have expressed irritation at having their TV turned off (they can turn it back on using the bedside control). It seems to me that good manners require one to turn off the television or radio or hang up the phone when the physician makes rounds. Am I wrong? -- HOSPITALIST IN THE NORTHEAST
DEAR HOSPITALIST: You have my sympathy. Dr. Oz, Ellen and "The View" are stiff competition.
No, you are not wrong. Not only is it good manners, it makes good sense to give full attention to everything the doctor has to say, as well as be able to answer any questions free of distraction. However, because your patients may not be thinking clearly -- if they were they would use better manners -- you are absolutely right to turn off the set after a brief explanation why.