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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by racer on December 29, 1998, at 15:01:02
OK, I've posted enough of my own story that you may see where this is going. I'm still curious, though, and I do think this is a legitimate question for discussion on this board.
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?
How many of you doctors out there would prefer an involved, active patient? Would you prefer someone who simply follows orders? Why?
Thanks, I hope that this does lead to a good discussion.
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!
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 30, 1998, at 8:44:01
In reply to Re: Patient Involvement, posted by Elizabeth on December 30, 1998, at 1:23:35
> 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?)
I think any doctor who shows up here is likely to be comfortable with patient involvement. :-)
As far as the other side, this is just a guess, and isn't meant to try to justify it, but maybe it has to do with having spent a lot of time studying medicine and psychiatry and whatever and therefore believing you're the one who knows best...
Bob
Posted by Toby on December 31, 1998, at 10:34:21
In reply to Re: Patient Involvement, posted by Elizabeth on December 30, 1998, at 1:23:35
Ah, grasshopper, when you can snatch the pebble from my open hand, then you will be ready to begin your journey.....
Whatever your ultimate medical destination, always keep in mind that your patients are regular people. They have access to lots of information via the media, self help books and the internet. Much of the information is crap, some is harmless drivel and some is actually beneficial. Always keep in mind that a well informed patient is a good ally but that a well informed patient is not a doctor. In other words, informed consent is an oxymoron because a layperson is never as informed as they could be. That's where the art of the science lies and where you as a doctor need to apply compassion and "best interest" for the patient. Many docs get mad if a patient refuses a treatment recommendation (can't tell you how many hospital consults I've done on perfectly reasonable people who refuse a certain treatment and the doc questions their competency, but I've never gotten a consult for an incompetent person who unwittingly agrees to whatever the doctor recommends). Find out what the patient fears about the recommendation (many have had relatives with a bad outcome and worry that it will generalize to them) and then go over alternatives. If you have none, then something is definitely awry. Keep patient information available in your office and depending on what your area of practice is, maybe keep a list of resources for your patients to explore on their own. Knowledge can be power. Being able to put a name to an illness is great help. Knowing what to look for, what to expect from the future (as best as anyone can know about the future), how one can take at least some control over an illness; these are the things that make any illness bearable and give us hope.
Well, these are just year-end babblings. Good Luck in Med School.
This is the end of the thread.
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