Manipulation in health care: A positive or negative experience?

In the context of health care, no image of interaction between staff and patients or between different health professionals could be any more juxtaposed to the idea of altruism in health care than that of manipulation of one’s actions by another. The entire nature of health care is one that conjures images of care, altruism and overt attempts to cater to the needs of the patient. The role of manipulation as a means by which to achieve certain goals is not one that is raised often. In fact, there are limited studies focussing on the role of manipulation in health care. But does this point to the notion that it does not exist in this context? Or does it point to a gap in research, a gap that fails to understand and explore an everyday occurrence?