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Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Doctor
With increasing incidences of medical negligence, the need for spreading
awareness and educating women regarding the same has been considerably aroused.
The misdiagnosis of some diseases such as
cancer
can be life threatening. Cancer is a deadly disease and if left untreated can
spread very quickly. Some patients who suffer from cancer are told they only
have a certain amount of time left to live.
There is no way to predict what will happen when a test is run or medicine is
administered. The only things that can be controlled in medicine are the actions
by doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff.
In an environment with more patients than medical professionals and a huge number of cases per nurse, it is not surprising that sometimes things go wrong. What is surprising are the number of accidents that could have been prevented with simple check lists. |
Before choosing a medical practitioner you need to ask yourself certain
questions and then decide in whose hands you would be safe and taken care off,
the best.
The first question you need to be informed about is your doctors
registration number. Patients are told that a board certified doctor is a good
choice for a practitioner. Taking the time to verify a board membership is worth
the effort and will help ensure that the doctor meets at least a minimum
competency for handling your healthcare. Patients need to check the credentials
of the doctor and the board from which s/he is certified. If a doctor claims to
be certified by a medical board, you'll need to be sure that the body that
certifies him or her is a bona fide medical specialty board.
-
 Years of Experience
There is no doubt that years of patient experience accumulated by older
physicians can be a significant advantage. A physician with many years of
experience may have better clinical judgment, which could translate into
improved ability to diagnose and manage complex
health problems. In general, if your priority is someone familiar with
current evidenced-based standards of care, you may want to opt for a younger
physician. And if you have multiple, complex health problems, or put a premium
on bedside manner, you may lean toward an older one.
Some research suggests that women prefer getting care from female doctors;
that's particularly true for screening tests for
breast,
cervical, and colon cancer. Other research hints that female physicians may
do a better job than male ones in providing basic preventive services to both
women and men. So if you're particularly concerned about preventive health care,
consider seeing a female doctor-especially if you're a woman yourself.
-
 Are you
Comfortable Answering Questions?
Medical history is an important aspect of treatment. There are number of
questions that need to be answered before the line of treatment is draw. The
doctor might ask about your family history, previous relationships (if any),
dietary pattern or some very personal questions that need to be answered. The
doctor is your health support and you should be in a position to answer all
his/her questions without hesitation for the best possible treatment.
Misdiagnosis can result in case of incomplete information. In case your doctor
asks you to undergo certain medical test, understand the urgency and need, and
take action accordingly.
-
Are you Looking for a Collaborative Partner or a Trusted Leader?
The caricature of the average primary-care doctor has gradually shifted from
the father figure who makes medical decisions for you to a technician who lays
out an array of treatment options for you to choose from with hardly a word of
guidance.
The reality, of course, is that a good doctor has always been someone whose
judgment you trust but who is also willing to take your preferences into account
and to admit when the medical evidence is uncertain. Most physicians combine
both characteristics, at least to some extent. Still, doctors do tend to lean
toward either relying mainly on their professional judgment or using a shared
decision-making model that involves actively educating patients and seeking
their input.
If you feel cheated in your dealing you can consult a lawyer, or a
medical negligence solicitor.
-
WF Team
Dated 11 January 2012
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