“Some days it would be better if I just stayed in bed,” Bob thought. He started out the day by oversleeping, thereby missing his first patient appointment. When he went out for lunch with Bill, his...

“Some days it would be better if I just stayed in bed,” Bob thought. He started out the day by oversleeping, thereby missing his first patient appointment. When he went out for lunch with Bill, his colleague at work, his car was rear-ended at a stoplight. Now he is treating a patient who has just been diagnosed as having lung cancer. Bob expresses his sympathy regarding this bad news. The patient retorts, “You shouldn’t sympathize. It’s people like you who are part of the problem! You preach about health, but you smoke like a chimney. If you can’t be a better example than this to common folks like us, you should get out of the health care field and leave it to someone who knows how to take care of his own health.” Bob, who has been fighting the cigarette habit, suddenly feels guilty. He wonders if his smoking really is that bad of an example for his patients. He wants to respond to the patient but cannot think of what to say regarding this indictment. Can you help him make an appropriate response? Why do you think your idea is an appropriate remark? Is the patient right?