By Staff

One of our favorite questions is "What is the one thing you wish you could say to your patients, but don't?" Over the years, we've gotten some sharp and telling answers, so we put together a list of our favorites.

1. No Smokes for you

Steven Nissen, MD: "If you continue to smoke, I would prefer that you see another physician."

2. Fool Me Once

Alice S.Y. Lee, MD: "I wish I can just tell the prescription drug addicts to stop coming to the ED for their fix, and they aren't fooling anyone."

3. Crazy Patient Love

Cy Stein, MD, PhD: "I really do care about you, but right at the moment you're driving me crazy."

4. Lesson For Your Kids

Mariell Jessup, MD: …”please tell your children to take care of themselves so they don't end up like you!"

5. Lose the Keyboard

Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH: "Stop surfing the Internet for health information -- most of that stuff is wrong!"

6. A Few Issues

Corey Slovis, MD: "Stop smoking, start walking, and decrease the amount of fried, rich, and creamy foods you eat to excess -- your shortness of breath, cough, knee pain, fatigue, adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea will all get dramatically better or will be cured."

7. Embrace the Pain

Lewis S. Nelson, MD: "I want to tell them that pain is a normal part of injury and healing, and that they should try to make peace with it."

8. Don't Do Those Drugs

Michael Holick, MD, PhD: "Medications that primary care doctors routinely give to their patients for treating osteoporosis are often not appropriate…"

9. Agony of The Feet

Kim Williams, MD: "If I had to pick out one very difficult conversation, it's one with a diabetic smoker. I actually look at their feet when I'm talking to them and I tell them WHY I'm looking at their feet: because the amputation rate is so high…"

10. Love Me and My Staff

Diana Bitner, MD: "The only thing that bothers me is when patients are late or are rude to my office staff -- who are trying their best to care for many patients at once. And I usually am intolerant of such behavior."