Abstract:

Doctor-patient communication, in its essence, is a process in which doctors and patients communicate with each other in terms of medical cognition, medical ability and medical values, bridge the differences, form consensus, and adopt corresponding medical treatments. Effective interpretation and acceptance of relevant information are necessary in doctor-patient communication. Based on hermeneutic theories and principles, doctor and patient's mutual respect and “pre-understanding” cognition of disease and medicine is the prerequisite for doctor-patient communication in this process. Reasonable viewing and rational treating of the actual differences in the medical process is the basis for doctor-patient communication. Striving to achieve “fusion of horizons” is the key to doctor-patient communication.

Key words: physician-patient relations, hermeneutics, doctor-patient communication, fusion of horizons