There are important things to remember when we consult our doctors’ advice; these mostly revolve around the fact that though doctors are well trained and generally very knowledgeable and good at what they do, they don’t know everything. At the end of the day, they’re people too and the fact is that even with the best intentions and the very best practises adhered to, people make mistakes. This isn’t to say stop trusting them, you should absolutely trust your GP but you should also take some initiative when a condition or a treatment might threaten either the way you live your life or your life itself.
Today, unlike times past, we all have a massive wealth of information at the push of a button. Don’t rely on the internet to diagnose your conditions, let your doctor do that, but read up on whatever’s been attributed to your symptoms. If you understand whatever illness you’ve got and you understand the treatments available and how they’re going to benefit you or the chances of them harming you, you’ll be better prepared for every outcome.
Your health is as much your own responsibility as it is your doctor’s, you’ve got to take the time to understand it so that, if your doctor does slip up, you can catch it. I don’t mean contradict a medical opinion, unless you yourself are a medical professional you won’t be able to even attempt that, what I mean is you’ll know what to expect. If things don’t go the way your expect them to or you know for a fact your symptoms don’t add up to that condition then seek a second opinion. Patients have the right to know all treatment options open to them and if you’re concerned about your doctor’s opinion on something then there’s no harm in checking it with another doctor. If they agree with each other then at least you’re sure and if they don’t, then you might have saved yourself all manner of bellyache!
Comments are closed.