Lewd, crude, and rude behavior: the impact of manners and etiquette in the general hospital.
BACKGROUND
Lewd, crude, and rude behaviors of patients and staff members have the potential to complicate care; unfortunately, the medical literature on manners and etiquette is sparse.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to understand the impact of lewd, crude, and rude behaviors in the general hospital and to provide a context in which to educate clinicians about the management of troublesome behaviors of patients and staff members.


METHODS
We reviewed the history of etiquette in the general hospital, and discuss the ethical ramifications and clinical management of inappropriate behaviors.


RESULTS
Lewd, crude, and rude language and behaviors are often heard and seen in the general hospital; such behaviors can be understood in a biopsychosocial context.


CONCLUSIONS
Teaching trainees about manners and etiquette can help them identify and manage offensive behaviors and can facilitate the provision of effective and ethical care.
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. bcsilverman@partners.org
Benjamin C
BC
Silverman
Thomas W
TW
Stern
Anne F
AF
Gross
Donald L
DL
Rosenstein
Theodore A
TA
Stern
D001290:Attitude; D032781:Codes of Ethics; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D007400:Interprofessional Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000941:ethics