The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) May 29 2026 Whereas patients in the past were expected to be patient, grateful, passive and docile - many of today's patients are assertive, demanding, impatient and insistent. So, what has happened? One of the most significant changes is that the treatment and care of the sick have shifted from the local community and family to the welfare state and professional healthcare services. With institutionalization, the 'sick role' shifted