Last week, I was watching a TED Talk that a neurosurgeon from Norway presented. He explained how, as patients, we have a crucial role in our healthcare. We often accept, without questioning, what the doctor indicates is our best option for treating our illness or chronic disease. He went on to say that surgeons, like himself, enjoy doing surgery. That´s what he was trained for. That´s what he practices and what he´s good at. Patients must understand that doctors have been educated a certain way and thus could be biased toward a specific procedure or therapy (i.e., pharmaceutical drugs, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation). To help us make a conscious choice, the speaker came up with four questions that we should prepare to ask our doctor before accepting the procedure or treatment he is prescribing.
The Four Questions:
1. Is the procedure you prescribe necessary?
2. What are the risks and possible side effects?
3. Are there other options?
4. What happens if I don´t do anything?
These are Great Questions Because…
1) Your doctor will see that you’re not like most uninformed patients who accept, without question, whatever is prescribed.
2) You will learn how much the doctor knows about questions 3 and 4.
3) Asking these questions could lead to a more personal and in-depth discussion about your diet and lifestyle practices and how they may affect your health. It calls to mind the following quote from Hippocrates, who is considered the Father of Medicine and celebrated for his holistic approach to treating illness and disease:
This approach may also reveal how much your doctor knows about disease prevention through nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices and how much he’s willing to go to establish a more personal relationship with you, his patient.
AND
4) If your doctor isn’t interested in answering your questions and appears in a hurry to see the next patient…maybe it’s time to look for another doctor.
Before attending the appointment, I highly recommend that you do previous research on your specific health issue(s). This could help you discern whether your doctor´s responses make sense and to what extent his knowledge corresponds to your own research. Your preparedness will help you understand your health better and ensure a more productive discussion with your doctor.
