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A Difficult Doctor-Patient Interaction

MMIMedium
Work Experience · 6 minSelf-marked
How to use this: start the timer and answer the question out loud (or type it). Then grade yourself 0–3 on each skill with a note of your evidence — exactly as our examiners do. Hit Reveal benchmark & score to see what a model answer scores and how you compare. Everything saves to your browser automatically.
Answer timer
6:00/ 6 min suggested
1

Answer the question

A Difficult Doctor-Patient Interaction

Describe a difficult interaction you observed between a doctor and a patient.

Likely follow-ups
1

What did the doctor do well or poorly?

2

What would you have done differently?

3

How did the patient appear to feel afterwards?

Your answer

Speak it out loud and we'll type it for you (free), or type your own notes — then mark yourself below.

Resources & frameworks
  • Reflect, don’t report: what you saw → what it taught you → how it shapes you.
  • Tell stories with STARR: Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection.
What strong answers do
Reveal the benchmark

Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.

  • Be tactful - don't name people or hospitals. Frame it as 'I observed an interaction...'
  • Identify a specific lever: the doctor's use of jargon, body language, time pressure, third-party in the room.
  • Show you understood the constraints (time, workload, prior consultation history) rather than just judging.
2

Mark yourself

Score each skill against the rubric, then add a line of evidence. Scale:

0Not shown1Limited2Good3Excellent
Quick mark:Completion: 0%

Empathy

0/3

Read the patient as well as the doctor

Reflection

0/3

Analyses without scapegoating

Communication

0/3

Handles a delicate observation

Insight

0/3

Aware of system pressures

3

Reflect & score

What would you change next time?
Your overall score / 10
Total: 0/12
Saved to your browser