The freshmen meet patients after only two weeks, and self-confidence comes hard.

I met patients who had what Americans label as positive attitudes and others with so-called negative attitudes.

But the group welcomes the opportunity to meet patients on a one-to-one basis.

At some schools, where students begin meeting patients early in their education, the white coat ceremony is held before the first year begins.

He has met patients in their homes, at restaurants, at the track (his fee is anywhere from $50 to $500 a session).

Meeting patients outside the office is usually a no-no.

Young doctors, when they first meet patients, don't know quite how to react.

As time went on, I met more and more fellow patients of my internist.

The stoma care nurse, for example, first meets patients in hospital but continues to visit them when they go home.

'And I am still meeting patients like her, rejected by family and past friends,' she went on.