Can we really trust our health care providers?

[Ocelot II]

12. I don't understand the problem. Asking about falls is a standard question

when the patient is older because falls are dangerous and could be a symptom of something serious. It would be malpractice not to ask, and it certainly doesn't express disregard for an older person. If they phrased it as the OP describes, that seems like an odd or awkward way to ask - I would expect the question to be more along the lines of "Have you fallen lately?" Otherwise I don't get the concern about it.