Knowledge Bank

Although considerable attention has been devoted to models of the doctor– patient relationship, the theoretical accounts tend to remain abstract, often neglecting the specific mechanisms through which power is exercised and asymmetry sustained in everyday practice. This relationship is essential since the prevalence of discussing medical issues with doctors is high: According to the European Social Survey, over 80% of the adult population in Poland discussed medical problems with doctors in the last 12 months. In this context, the qualitative research presented in this paper draws on detailed recordings of medical consultations to identify a wide range of behaviors exhibited by both doctors and patients. This paper illuminates the micro-level processes through which asymmetry is enacted, negotiated, and at times contested. The findings enrich our understanding of how institutionalized power relations are reproduced in medical interactions, while also highlighting the potential for agency on the part of both partners in the clinical encounter.