Affluent patients 'more attractive'.(Brief article)

You won't necessarily end up before the GMC for this, but if you're an average GP you are apparently susceptible to your patients' looks, youth and the scent of their money. You may also be giving more attractive patients better treatment.

Asked to respond to photographs of 325 patients aged 40 to 60 from the most affluent or deprived practices in Northern Ireland, GPs were much more positive about the affluent.

A team of 20 male and 10 female GPs rated more affluent patients as markedly more physically attractive.

GPs from deprived practices were particularly susceptible.

The patients' level of affluence affected the GPs more than three …