More than ever, doctors’ time with each patient they see is limited. Doctors who work for large medical systems may be expected to see a certain number of people each day. That can leave patients who are already tense because of their surroundings or intimidated by their doctor afraid to ask questions or even bring up symptoms that are concerning them – particularly at routine check-ups. Many don’t want to be labeled a “difficult” patient, as Elaine was in one memorable episode of Seinfeld.
Yet, as a patient, you need to advocate for yourself. If you’re not good at doing that, bring along a family member or friend who will – particularly if you’re dealing with a serious condition. The more you start to do it for yourself, the easier it will likely become.
Take notes and ask questions
If your doctor is giving you a long explanation or directions, pause them so you can take notes on your phone or notepad. Even if they say they’ll put the information in your patient notes, it doesn’t hurt to do it yourself just to be safe. Don’t be afraid to stop your doctor and ask questions. That doesn’t mean you’re questioning their knowledge. If something doesn’t sound right or contradicts something you’ve read elsewhere, you have a right to make sure you’ve understood them correctly.
Don’t hide things
Too often, people lie to their doctors about how much they drink, smoke, exercise and more. It’s natural to not want to admit to doing something that’s bad for you or to inflate how many hours a week you work out, but honesty can make all the difference in diagnoses and treatment. You just have to be prepared for any negative reaction and acknowledge that you could do better.
No doctor should intimidate or frighten their patients – intentionally or not. No doctor should discourage a patient from asking questions and wanting to fully understand what they’re being told. If you have one who does those things, it may be best to seek another provider if that’s an option.
Advocating for yourself as a patient can help prevent missed or misdiagnoses and other harm caused by medical negligence. Additionally, when patients are confident advocates for themselves, it can make it harder for a doctor to blame their mistakes on their patient.