Educational disclaimer

Last updated: 10 September 2026. This page is a working draft prepared for review by a qualified legal adviser before launch.

What this book is

Talking to Patients is an educational guide about communication between healthcare professionals and the people in their care. It combines established healthcare communication research with practical, scenario-based examples written for a general healthcare readership.

What this book is not

• It is not individualised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and nothing in it should be applied to a specific patient without your own clinical assessment and judgment.
• It is not psychological or psychiatric assessment, therapy, or training in psychotherapy.
• It does not replace your professional training, supervision, registration requirements or continuing education.
• It does not replace your employer's or institution's protocols, policies or escalation procedures.
• It does not replace emergency procedures. Where a clinical situation requires urgent assessment or emergency care, that always takes priority over any conversation described in the book.
• It does not override the laws, regulations or professional standards that apply where you practise.
• It does not authorise anyone to work outside their professional scope of practice.

The four communication needs

The four communication needs described in the book are a practical organising framework created for the book. They are not a validated psychological instrument, a personality classification, or a clinical prediction model, and the book states this plainly in the chapter that introduces them. Readers should not use the framework to label, categorise or diagnose patients.

Research and references

The book cites published research and professional guidance where relevant, and identifies which points are well supported and which are practical synthesis. Where evidence is limited, the book says so. Research findings change over time, and readers should consult current guidance for their own jurisdiction and profession.

No outcome claims

Reading this book is not claimed or implied to improve clinical outcomes, guarantee patient trust, guarantee treatment adherence, or produce any particular result in practice.

Contact

Questions about this disclaimer can be sent to [email protected].