Well, that’s an interesting question…What do you do? We go to our doctors because we trust that their intensive medical education and professional training puts them in the best position to help us with expert advice. That’s the way it should be and most of the time, truthfully, that’s the way it is.
Something is changing, though, about the “thickness” of the line between what doctors know and understand and what patients know and feel. Perhaps it’s the internet: we all have so much access to technical, scientific and clinical information that once was for a professional audience only. Perhaps it is a reflection of trends in our society that motivate us to want to take control of decision making and our health and health care rather than hand that responsibility to our doctors. Perhaps, also, not agreeing with your doctor is just a reflection of the natural human nature and our ability to thoughtfully agree or disagree.
Have you had an experience of disagreeing with your doctor? How did it make you feel? What did you do?
This article: What to Do When You Disagree With Your Doctor, featured recently in U.S. News & World Report offers some good advice and interesting insight on the subject.
From my perspective, as your doctor, I want to make sure my patients know that forming an open and communicative relationship with your doctor – indeed with your entire rehabilitation and health care team – is absolutely the best way to assure that if or when a treatment question, concern or disagreement does surface, all parties involved feel comfortable with communicating and working together. I don’t mind when a patient questions or disagrees with my medical advice.
Do you have a question? Let’s talk about it!
