And so, not infrequently when I am not in their FOV but within ear shot, I see their true colors. Residents screaming at patients… and just plain ignoring them or picking a fight with a fellow resident from – say - OBGYN… they would not have dared do had they known the ‘Phantom’ was around. So I call them aside – give them a lecture on how it is important to be polite. even though the situation may be exasperating “I know it can difficult“ I say, ”But you should always try to be nice to patients; they are here not because they want to be here, but because they have to be” And I am off on my way thinking… ,”This must be an aberration… may he/she had bad night on call last night” and I think no more about it….