To ensure a healthier doctor-patient relationship, there are protocols that doctors should notice, each time a patient comes for a consultation. Maximum doctor-patient disputes are because of a communication gap or miscommunication. 

Remember the acronym AIDET; it symbolizes the principles that doctors should follow to connect better with their patients and build a doctor-patient relationship grounded on mutual trust and respect. These principles are:

1. Acknowledge: Whenever a patient comes to you, welcome the patient and call them by his/her name.
2. Introduce: Introduce yourself or any other member of your staff to the patient and what you would be doing for the patient.
3.  Duration: Keep your patient well-versed about the expected duration of treatment; how long would treatment continue or, any waiting time.
4.  Explanation: Always brief your patients about the diagnosis, the tests or procedures in a language easily understand by them. This is the theory of informed consent.
5. Thank you: Say thank you to the patient for their communication and cooperation. Doing this will develop trust and respect in the patient for you as his/her physician.

Adapted from: www.studergroup.com/hardwired-results/hardwired-results-03/hardwire-the-five-fundamentals-of-service