Medical Choices
Many doctors assume that patients don’t want to know about medical choices. And it’s true that many patients can’t answer any of the most basic questions about their illness and simply go along with the doctor, but to get the best treatment for your lifestyle, there is information you must know to make the right choice.
Many doctors assume that patients don’t want to be burdened with the medical choices and options available to them. That is true in part, often the patient is unable to answer even the most basic questions about their illness, but simply goes along with the doctor. And most doctors don’t give comprehensive information. Time is short and other patients are waiting. It is up to the patient to inform themselves about their illness and their choices.
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Decades of research at Dartmouth Atlas Project, which analyzes how medicine is practiced across the country, has shown that the treatment a person is given is influenced by the local doctors practice pattern. So depending on where you live, you will be more likely to get aggressive treatment when a lifestyle change plus medication would be called for in another area. More informed patients may have a larger range of options than they are aware of with better outcomes.
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Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Dem, is pitching a program to better inform patients and usher in joint decision making between patient and doctor. He wants to implement it for 11 conditions that make up 40% of Medicare spending on inpatient surgery, including early stage prostate and breast cancers, osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and spine. It doesn’t take the doctors opinion out of the pot but it does give the patient a say so in the final choice of treatment.
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For instance the doctor might recommend surgery that may improve symptoms of an enlarged prostate but it can also cause impotence, incontinence and retrograde ejaculation,or dry climax. When a man and his doctor share in the decision making, the focus is on patient values. How do you feel about impotence? Is it important to you? What about incontinence?
A doctor can prescribe DVDs and booklets to better inform the patient or the information can be found online. These decision making tools address all kinds of decisions from getting a flu shot to heart surgery. Besides the risks and benefits you will be helped to probe your feelings about any side effects, lifestyle changes and how you will deal with them. Some insurance companies offer decision-making tools. Call after a diagnosis is made to find out.
General information can be found on www.guidesmith.org
http://healthmad.com/healthcare-industry/hospitals-and-cleanliness/
http://healthmad.com/healthcare-industry/consult-your-pharmacist/
http://healthmad.com/medicine/medicine-and-genetics/
http://healthmad.com/medicine/food-and-drugs-that-don’t-mix/
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Authoress Terry E. Lyle | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Ruby you’re right but as far as I’m concerned I want to know all the details and choices no matter how small. Because one fact is true and that point is whether or not I can perform surgery on myself or not, Can’t nobody tell me how I feel and whether or not I have pain acute or not. A lot of times doctors act like they don’t believe the patients when they say something hurts because they don’t see it on a xray. And all treatment shouldn’t have to be invasive if all choices were given to the client.
Teves | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Very true ruby… http://www.articlespost.page.tl
Jenny Heart | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Excellent!
Francy | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Very informative
Keep sharing
cutedrishti8 | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Great information to share……Thanks
Judy Kaelin | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Good information
Jamie Myles | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
Good article! Patients need to be involved in their health care choices. Doctors don’t always know the dynamics surrounding the choices that may or may not be best for each individual patient. It is important for all of us to take responsibility for our medical care and choices. kudos to you for tackeling an inportant topic.
Eunice Tan | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
You are right. I keep looking for informations from internet about disease of medicine I take. I need to know more.
martie | Dec 1, 2009 | Reply
I think knowing what choices are available is important in helping to keep a positive outlook on your life.
deep blue | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Very well written. A vital post to the survival of one’s manhood in his final years. Thanks, Ruby.
wonder | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Doctors only pass a verdict, some of them.They go by tradition without getting deeper into the person concerned.Consequently more opinions become necessary and more running about is entailed A goodpost.
ken bultman | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Good one. The patient must be involved in decision making and having only one primary care giver is best…not be seen by a different physician each visit.
johnnydod | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
so true. …nowadays you must always question and ask questions… gone are the days when we should have blind faith in doctors…. or for that fact anyone that influences are part on this earth.
abhishek40914 | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
very true, good information collected, but I guess it is the desperation, dependence and ignorance of patient that is also responsible
Christine Ramsay | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
I must admit I prefer to know all the details and make sure my doctor understands exactly what my symptoms are. I would not succunb to surgery lightly. A very good and informative piece.
Christine
giftarist | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Well written article. Well done.
Sharif Ishnin | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Very true. A second opinion is actually essential to get the best form of treatment. It also helps in a misdiagnosis at times.
AlmaG | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Yes I believe that a second and even 3rd opinion is important! very informative thanks
Wennie Estares | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
While doctors may recommend but eventually patients are apt to decide
Starpisces | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Well done Ruby, well researched and also written, I am becoming more knowledgeable as days go by, after I started to read Triond articles, including this piece from you, wonderful work.
cardy | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
A great article great work!
papaleng | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Outstanding write. Yes, patients do have the option to seek 2nd or 3rd medical opinion.
Netty net | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
We should try to educate ourselves one our conditions.
Darla Cooke | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article!
Melody SJAL | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
A very well-written piece on a key topic.
Brenda Nelson | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Know what your options are and know that doctors push things sometimes because they are paid to (prescription endorsements etc)
chitragopi | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Sometimes doctors reveal only a part of what is to be known by the patient. The patient should exercise his right to know. Nice article.
K.Reshma | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
Great article
Themax | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
great on Ghz,really very good to read and helpful
Marie Antoinette | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
You are right on the money. I remember one time that I decided to ask the doctor what he was about to inject on my arm. He said: Penycillin. I said: I am alergic to it and it is in my record! Ooops!
CHAN LEE PENG | Dec 2, 2009 | Reply
I think every patient has a right to know what medical condition or prosedure he or she is goin’ to experience. They should be given time and space to make a right choice for their own health.
Snooky | Dec 3, 2009 | Reply
Right on Ruby, Right on.
Yovita Siswati | Dec 3, 2009 | Reply
Great post on a very interesting topics. patients do have the right to know more and seek opinions from other doctors.
CA Johnson | Dec 3, 2009 | Reply
This is a great article. I agree with some of the others. I would want to know all of my choices too.