Posted by Elizabeth on December 30, 1998, at 1:23:35
In reply to Patient Involvement, posted by racer on December 29, 1998, at 15:01:02
> How many of you patients out there want to be fully informed and involved in your recovery? An active participant in your care? Have you had trouble with doctors who don't want you so involved?
Hi, Racer. Nice to meet you.
I think it is important to discuss this subject openly with one's doctor - preferably, something to ask them about when you are first considering starting treatment with them. If you are someone who really wants to be involved, obviously a doctor who doesn't do things that way will not be compatible. (The question is, will they admit they don't do things that way?)
Personally I do prefer to be involved. If I am left out of decisons regarding my treatment, I feel patronized. I don't regard doctors or therapists as "authority figures" the way some people do, but rather as professionals who happen to be working for me. Their "authority" comes only from knowledge (as in being an authority on a subject), not from some weird power relationship.
To be fair, it's sort of hard for me to see things from the other side. (How annoying is it for doctors when patients second-guess or disagree with them, know more than they do about a particular subject, or just say "no" to a treatment idea they don't like?) Who knows - maybe 10 years from now I will have reversed my position (I'm a pre-med student). I hope not, though!
poster:Elizabeth
thread:1836
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981201/msgs/1867.html