When — if ever — should a doctor hug her patients? Michael Wilkes, who’s an M.D., takes up the topic in a recent column for the Sacramento Bee:

When we teach students about antibiotics or surgical procedures, our first step is to look at the indications when is it useful? A fever or cough may suggest an infection requiring medication; serious stomach pain and vomiting may suggest an intestinal obstruction requiring surgery. A person who is distraught, devastated or otherwise needs some emotional support may indicate the need for a hug. The dose required is difficult to determine, but it ranges from a quick little embrace with a pat on the back to a sustained, comforting squeeze.

The outcome we hope to achieve when utilizing the hug is not a cure of any condition but rather a connection that conveys that another person cares and is trying to understand. As with other medical interventions, the hug has potential adverse effects. We risk offending the huggie, or having him or her misinterpret our hug as having romantic overtures.

Despite the risks, Wilkes seems to be pretty strongly in favor of doctor-patient hugging — and not just because of the effect on the patient. He mentions that sometimes he needs the emotional connection.

-Greg Dahlmann