RE: "Patients," not "Consumers"

I was recently reflecting again on the use of the term consumers to refer to persons utilizing medical services. As the number of administrators in medicine has increased exponentially, we have been advised for several decades to refer to patients as consumers. But, "healthcare consumers" definitely introduces a very transactional relationship based on economics and money, not a caring relationship over time. While, we want to avoid a paternalistic attitude toward patients, referring to them as consumers does not foster an atmosphere of earnest concern or attention for those in our care, who often are suffering. When one is a patient, it is understood that one needs assistance and protection due to a diminished state of health. Patients need our help and care as physicians, not providers of some saleable good or service.