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Doctors and Nurses of Reddit, what is the most obvious sign that a patient is lying to you?

· 2 min read

We’re all human. Some of us are also a little…creative.

The subreddit r/Doctor is the place where medical professionals can vent, joke, and occasionally confess that their diagnostic skills aren’t as flawless as they’d like. This particular thread asks: “What is the most obvious sign that a patient is lying to you?”. The answers range from the painfully honest to the absurdly imaginative. Below is the original question followed by the most entertaining, no‑username‑included comments that made the discussion worth a few chuckles.

The Original Post​

“I’ve had a few patients who just don’t want to be honest about their symptoms. Maybe they’re trying to hide something, or maybe they’re just being polite. What’s the most obvious sign that a patient is lying to you? Any anecdotes or funny stories?”

The Comments​

“when the object is in their anus”

“if you were indeed putting the shopping away....naked. Then why did the pickle jar have a condom over it?”

“I'm a doctor in Riyad (Saudi Arabia). Homosexuality is still illegal here so the excuses I hear from people can be quite creative.”

“Question: do you have to report the creative explanations or is it still confidential where you are.”

“When the story just doesn't make sense. You definitely did not just fall on it, it is in too deep.”

TL;DR​

  • Patients can be creative.
  • Some signs are obvious, like an awkward pickle jar.
  • Always keep the conversation confidential—unless the doctor is in Riyad, then you might need to report the creative excuses.