How to get questions addressed re, meds and procedures
Dec 12, 2017 15:47:04 GMT -8
Steve and coolgonian like this
Post by drysocks on Dec 12, 2017 15:47:04 GMT -8
Thanks for creating this forum. Peer to peer is a great way to share information to help us become more informed about health choices. I've worked as an advocate for patients, in several areas of health care and would love to share some info on how to get your questions answered and how to become an empowered patient.
First of all, education is power. Ask questions. Research. Learn. Become your own advocate.
The new paradigm in health care is for doctor and patient to be on an equal footing, working side by side to find what is best for each individual. The old paradigm is hierarchal with the doc above, dictating what will be done. This does not empower us as patients. And we should be!
I've been slowly looking through this site
I really like how you have offered views from both sides of an issue.
Example: the 2 TED talks... Carbs:Good and Carbs:Bad
Ultimately it is the individuals decision but so few want to become proactive in their care. This site is a good place for people to start doing that.
One comment made, that caught my attention was something like, would a doctor "let" them stop drugs for a test period. Ultimately it is the persons decision. Its not about a doc "letting" them.
There is this legal thing called "Informed Consent". A doc is required to give full disclosure so that a patient can make an informed choice and give informed consent. Very few docs actually give all the info needed to make that informed choice. And it is a choice. Their argument is : if I do that they might not do what I say!
When a drug or procedure is offered We (and the doc) can use BRAND to help us understand how to get the info, to make an informed decision and give informed consent
B Benefits... they should list all the benefits of their suggested treatment
R Risks... list all the risks
A Alternatives... List all alternative therapies and modalities
N (do) Nothing... a choice a patient has
D Decision... it is ultimately the patients' decision
A Cheat Sheet of questions a patient can take to an appointment to get these answers and enable oneself to make an informed decision and give informed consent (feel free to copy and paste!)
Treatments, Drugs and Interventions
* How will this be helpful
*Why must this be done now? What might happen if we
wait an hour? A week? Months? Or do nothing?
* What are the advantages/disadvantages?
* This may be the treatment you usually recommend,
but what other approaches can you tell me about?
* If several treatment choices are possible: Is there a
logical sequence in which to try different options?
Tests and Procedures
* What will we find out from this test/procedure?
* How accurate is it?
* What are the risks?
* Do they outweigh the benefits?
*What will you or we do differently based on the results?
* If nothing, is there another reason to do it?
First of all, education is power. Ask questions. Research. Learn. Become your own advocate.
The new paradigm in health care is for doctor and patient to be on an equal footing, working side by side to find what is best for each individual. The old paradigm is hierarchal with the doc above, dictating what will be done. This does not empower us as patients. And we should be!
I've been slowly looking through this site
I really like how you have offered views from both sides of an issue.
Example: the 2 TED talks... Carbs:Good and Carbs:Bad
Ultimately it is the individuals decision but so few want to become proactive in their care. This site is a good place for people to start doing that.
One comment made, that caught my attention was something like, would a doctor "let" them stop drugs for a test period. Ultimately it is the persons decision. Its not about a doc "letting" them.
There is this legal thing called "Informed Consent". A doc is required to give full disclosure so that a patient can make an informed choice and give informed consent. Very few docs actually give all the info needed to make that informed choice. And it is a choice. Their argument is : if I do that they might not do what I say!
When a drug or procedure is offered We (and the doc) can use BRAND to help us understand how to get the info, to make an informed decision and give informed consent
B Benefits... they should list all the benefits of their suggested treatment
R Risks... list all the risks
A Alternatives... List all alternative therapies and modalities
N (do) Nothing... a choice a patient has
D Decision... it is ultimately the patients' decision
A Cheat Sheet of questions a patient can take to an appointment to get these answers and enable oneself to make an informed decision and give informed consent (feel free to copy and paste!)
Treatments, Drugs and Interventions
* How will this be helpful
*Why must this be done now? What might happen if we
wait an hour? A week? Months? Or do nothing?
* What are the advantages/disadvantages?
* This may be the treatment you usually recommend,
but what other approaches can you tell me about?
* If several treatment choices are possible: Is there a
logical sequence in which to try different options?
Tests and Procedures
* What will we find out from this test/procedure?
* How accurate is it?
* What are the risks?
* Do they outweigh the benefits?
*What will you or we do differently based on the results?
* If nothing, is there another reason to do it?