Your correspondent Jill Thistlethwaite1 asks the question: ‘If we learn the techniques of “patient-centred” consulting and demonstrating empathy without really liking patients or agreeing with patient partnership is this a problem?’. I would suggest that it is not a problem at all, that it would be unreasonable to expect a GP to like or feel empathy towards every single patient at every consultation, and that we are required as GPs to behave in a professional way at all times even if it …