The trend toward casual address and dress in the medical profession could reinforce the power differential that already exists between patient and physician and adversely affect the patient-physician relationship.
Teaching physicians cultural competency concepts and skills that will help them overcome the challenge of caring for patients from many cultures and lead to improved patient-physician communication.
Academic and community physicians must do more to limit unreasonable work shift lengths in medical education and training in order to protect the health and safety of patients and doctors.