Power, Perception and Practise: The Dynamics of Medical Encounters between Patients and Medical Personnel

Abstract

Medical encounters extend beyond clinical procedures and are embedded in cultural meanings, power dynamics, and lived experiences. However, limited attention has been given to how these power asymmetries shape patient-provider interactions across different healthcare contexts. This study investigates how interpersonal, institutional, and sociocultural forces influence diagnosis, treatment, and the overall experience of care. Using qualitative textual analysis grounded in Linda and Ezekiel Emmanuel's doctor-patient interaction models and Kekeghe's pathotextualism, the article examines Rowing Without Oars by Ulla-Carin Lindquist and Burning Bright by Maryam Awaisu. Findings show that medical practice is sustained not only by clinical expertise but also by relational sensitivity, narrative awareness, and contextual understanding. The study concludes that integrating empathy, cultural literacy, and narrative competence into medical training is vital for reshaping power relations and fostering more humane, patient-centred care. Keywords: medical encounters, power, narrative medicine, pathotextualism, patient-centred care.