Experiencing a Harmonious Doctor-Patient Relationship: Analysing Life Narratives of Infectious Disease

The doctor-patient relationship in Chinese healthcare has long been strained, but during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary shift toward harmonious interpersonal interactions was observed by both the doctor and the patient. This article examines the emergence of life narratives by patients, healthcare practitioners, and journalists, exploring how different perspectives influence the establishment of a positive doctor-patient relationship during the most widely spread infectious disease in the twenty-first century so far. While patients primarily perceived the disease as a disruption of their daily routines, front-line responders, despite experiencing similar sentiments, persisted in their medical duties to combat the impact of COVID-19. These narratives serve as a reminder of how understanding the complexity, variations, and limitations of medicine can contribute to an improved doctor-patient relationship and enhance the humanistic spirit in healthcare.