Dehumanization in today's medical practice is the standard of care. This has been especially common since the institution of the hospitalists. Patients are no longer often managed by their primary care doctor. They are often dressed half-naked, identified by their disease (ie the gallbladder in room 325), and treated as though they cannot participate in making important decisions about their workup and treatment. Care is often impersonal and guided by "one size fits all" protocols.
