He interviews her, and after your next patient, you get this report: the patient, 35 years old, explained haltingly that her headaches began around the time she began suspecting her husband was having...

He interviews her, and after your next patient, you get this report: the patient, 35 years old, explained haltingly that her headaches began around the time she began suspecting her husband was having an affair. She then burst into tears saying, “It’s the headaches that are driving him away.” You know this woman needs help; her anxiety is overwhelming her and she may even be suicidal. She needs counseling preceded by a more thorough neurologic workup, neither of which you will be able to do for her and arrange today. You ask your assistant if he can handle this, and he says he thinks it would be better if you would just take a few minutes to talk with her because her sobbing and holding her head seems to be distressing the other patients in the waiting area. You suggest he try to schedule an appointment later in the week when you have more time to show her the care you are sure would be of some reassurance to her and perhaps get her headed in the right direction for a more thorough neurologic workup as well.