Patients often give Soccer Jersey to doctors as an appreciative sign of great thanks for the care they provide. Some years I may go unappreciated for my efforts. Some years I get thanked for a job well done for spending time with the patient and their family. Some years I have patients that hate me. Some years I even have patients that hate me and love me. I can understand getting a card as a thank you for a job well done. Patients want doctors to know they appreciate their hard work and sacrifice. But what about going beyond the card? What about the gifts for doctors that have some emotional, sentimental or monetary value? With Christmas coming up quickly, it may be natural for many patients to want to give their doctor a christmas gifts. Is it OK for doctors to accept homemade gifts from patients? These are gifts for doctors that often carry a strong emotional tone of gratitude. I was cleaning out my closet the other day when I found these homemade Christmas ornaments hiding in a shoe box. I had forgotten about these ornaments I received from a patient of mine many years ago that I followed in outpatient residency clinic.
