Physicians’ perceptions of “difficult” encounters are related to perceived workload, job satisfaction, and communication training, similar to burnout.

“Difficult” patient-physician encounters have roots in uncertainty about individuals’ trustworthiness, clinicians’ skills and training, and medical science.

Introduction to the April 2017 issue on moral psychology and “difficult” clinician-patient relationships.

Five images capture the tensions in health care between dependency and autonomy, vulnerability and strength, and independence and dependence.

Reflective learning during and after challenging experiences can be used to foster medical students’ moral development and professional identity formation.

The AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ opinions related to moral psychology and “difficult” clinician-patient relationships.

Physicians have an ethical responsibility to repair damaged relationships with patients stemming from their duty to treat and greater power.

When colleagues request treatment that is not medically indicated, clinicians should show empathy and respect without compromising judgment.

Gender-concordant care requests involve principles of beneficence, respect, and fairness and, when they occur on rotations, require a team-based approach.

Narrative medicine—particularly, writing 55-word stories—can be used to teach medical students self-reflection, ethical awareness, and resilience.