You’re responsible to the patient, not for the patient. 

Blur this distinction and practice becomes far harder than necessary. 

Being responsible TO the patient means you owe them your attention, competence, objectivity, honesty, clear communication, and respect. Essential obligations of a licensed professional. 

Being responsible FOR the patient suggests you’ve taken on what belongs to the patient. Such as their decisions, follow-through, lifestyle choices, priorities, speed of recovery, and whether they stay or leave.

Do so and you’ve crossed a line, allowing clinical outcomes to determine your emotional state. It’s a form of stealing—assuming responsibility that belongs to patients.

Remember, chiropractic relies on riving the patient’s life force to doing the healing, which occurs at its own pace, reflecting the patient’s healing capacity rather than the quality of your care.

You can be responsible for the quality of your care—without being responsible for the patient’s response to it.

Bill Esteb, a passionate chiropractic advocate since 1981, brings a fresh perspective to the profession as Patient Media’s creative director and co-founder of Perfect Patients. With 13 insightful books examining the doctor-patient relationship, he inspires chiropractors worldwide as a chiropractic speaker, through his chiropractor coaching program, and consulting. Since 1999 Monday Morning Motivation has been emailed weekly to over 10,000 subscribers, sparking breakthroughs across the chiropractic community.

Email Bill