Why should we examine patients from the right side?

**medstudent** · March 14th, 2010

While learning clinical medicine, surgery or obstetrics, we are always taught to examine patients from their right side. Is there any specific reason for prefering the right side?

My left handed classmates face a problem, as they are not as conversant in using the right hand for palpation. They wish they could examine with their left hand from the left side of the patient.

**Shashikiran** · March 15th, 2010

Good question, many students ask this question frequently.

The choice of right side for examining the patient from is more out of convention. It is certainly not an absolute requirement.

Always using the same side for examination allows us to be consistent with our techniques. While examining from the right side is easier for right-handed individuals, left-handed persons may feel that they have a better control on the technique if they examine from the left side of the patient.

While I am aware that in a high-stake "examination" situation, this may lead to a lot of confusion, it is more important that the person examining the patient is comfortably positioned in relation to the patient.

**medstudent** · March 15th, 2010

Thanks! Your reply vindicates my position during discussions with my friends... I used to harp on the "standardization" of techniques.

**Gluteus_Maximus** · March 17th, 2010

Thanks! Just started clinical postings and was given this instruction... glad I am able to see an explanation here.

**Kyle87st** · January 7th, 2012

I like this forum, I have many problems to solve, thank you

Why should we examine patients from the right side?

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