This document focuses on the scientific evidence presently availableon the patient–doctor relationship. As the patient seeks care, thephysician represents only one of many relationships that the patientforms, and relationships with physicians and other professionalcaregivers have a mutual influence on each other. This critical,systematic review is based on approximately 800 studies that wereselected according to predetermined quality criteria. Most of thestudies were performed in the United States, but several are fromCanada, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Sweden. Most studiesinvolve patients treated in ambulatory care settings.