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Doctors still trusted
Patients still trust their doctors
The first opinion poll conducted since the Harold Shipman murder case shows doctors are still trusted by the public.
The survey, carried out by pollsters MORI for the British Medical Association (BMA), found 87% of people would generally trust their doctor to tell the truth.
The survey, carried out by pollsters MORI for the British Medical Association (BMA), found 87% of people would generally trust their doctor to tell the truth.
Doctors work hard to earn the public's trust  |
Dr Ian Bogle, BMA
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Doctors scored slightly better than teachers, who were trusted by 85% of those polled. Clergyman and priests (78%), judges (77%) and professors (76%) were also thought to generally tell the truth.
Doctors scored 4% lower than last year - but the findings showed a decline in trust for most of the 16 occupations people were asked about.
Spotlight
The medical profession has been in the spotlight following the Bristol baby deaths scandal, the Shipman case - the former GP was convicted in January of murdering 15 of his former patients - and a series of high profile blunders.
But when asked how well or badly doctors were doing their jobs and reminded of these kinds of incidents, 89% of those polled said they thought doctors were doing very or fairly well.
And 90% said they were very or fairly satisfied with the way their doctor was doing their job. Only nurses did better - with 95% saying they were satisfied with nurses' performance.
Doctors scored 4% lower than last year - but the findings showed a decline in trust for most of the 16 occupations people were asked about.
Spotlight
The medical profession has been in the spotlight following the Bristol baby deaths scandal, the Shipman case - the former GP was convicted in January of murdering 15 of his former patients - and a series of high profile blunders.
But when asked how well or badly doctors were doing their jobs and reminded of these kinds of incidents, 89% of those polled said they thought doctors were doing very or fairly well.
And 90% said they were very or fairly satisfied with the way their doctor was doing their job. Only nurses did better - with 95% saying they were satisfied with nurses' performance.
Who the public trusts to tell the truth |
Doctors - 87%
Teachers - 85%
Clergymen/priests - 78%
Police - 60%
Business leaders - 28%
Politicians - 20%
Journalists - 15%
|
Dr Ian Bogle, chairman of BMA council, said: "I am delighted but not surprised that the public retains such confidence in doctors.
"The doctor patient relationship continues to be the bedrock on which our health care is founded and doctors work hard to earn the public's trust."
Michele Corrado of MORI, which polled over 2,000 adults across the UK in early February, said: "It is clear from the findings that the Shipman case has barely dented public confidence in doctors.
"While the fall is statistically significant, confidence in doctors still comes well above what we predicted and other professions, such as teachers and professors, show similar falls from almost the same level."
"The doctor patient relationship continues to be the bedrock on which our health care is founded and doctors work hard to earn the public's trust."
Michele Corrado of MORI, which polled over 2,000 adults across the UK in early February, said: "It is clear from the findings that the Shipman case has barely dented public confidence in doctors.
"While the fall is statistically significant, confidence in doctors still comes well above what we predicted and other professions, such as teachers and professors, show similar falls from almost the same level."
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