Bedside manners

Posted by James Briggs on May 10, 2005

In Reply to: Bedside manners posted by Scarlett on May 10, 2005

: What did the phrase "good bedside manners" come from?

It's certainly old in the UK. It was first used, I believe, to describe a doctor's attitude/ambience when examining a sick patient in their bed. If the doctor had a 'good bedside manner', treated the patient with respect and care, then the patient gained reassurance in the likely outcome of their illness.