In a study that was mean to simulate what happens during a
typical medical office visit, although the great majority of patients wanted to
participate in their own medical care by giving their opinions about what
should happen to them – what tests they should get, which procedures to get,
etc – and although more than 90 % felt they could ask their doctor anything and
could discuss the various options open to them in an easy manner with their
physician, the vast majority of those patients were nonetheless reluctant to
tell their doctor that they disagreed with a decision the doctor had made on
their behalf.
And that’s just not right.
Medicine is an imperfect discipline in which there are
often many seemingly similar – maybe even equal – choices that can be made and
there is rarely a “best” answer, just a whole lot of equally OK answers.
Not only that but often, a great deal of an outcome
depends on the patient – what they feel comfortable with, what makes them
cringe and reluctant to go on, etc.
So if something doesn’t feel right, always feel free to
tell your doctor – chances are, he/she will readily change their mind about
what you should do based on what you tell them you’d prefer.
