The Four Vital Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor
Navigating visits to a medical centre can be quite tricky. However, when done correctly, the quality of care enhances to a great extent. A doctor-patient relationship, which is based on open communication, paves the way for an optimal outcome under all circumstances.
But doctors are busy, and many times, unfortunately, do not listen to what a person is saying. So, how to make the most out of a visit? Apart from keeping secrets at bay, or in other words, being as honest as possible, you must ask the right type of questions. A few major ones mong the lot include:
- What is the Purpose of this Test?
The professionals working for Glebe Medical Centre said prior to undertaking any sort of physical examination, people must inquire about its purpose. If a test seems unnecessary, you can choose to forego it.
For example, if you already know your blood group, there is no reason to go through a blood test just to know this. However, some tests are lifesaving and provide helpful information to you and your doctor.
- Are There Alternative Treatment Options?
There is nothing wrong in asking if an alternative and comparatively safe treatment option is available for your condition. Many times, the doctor comes up with an approach far better than the one suggested earlier.
Suppose a woman is diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Well, instead of opting for a hysterectomy, which has a wide range of adverse reactions, she can easily be cured through uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE), an effective minimally invasive process.
- Are There Potential Complications?
This is an important question to ask in case you are planning on getting surgery or any routine procedure for that matter. There might be complications to look out for, such as an allergic reaction to anaesthesia or the medicine injected. Being thoroughly acquainted with the side-effects will provide you with the chance to decide if you would like to continue.
- What are the Risks and Benefits of this Treatment?
The highly competent Lewisham doctors asked patients to consider two things before undertaking a treatment- its risks and benefits. Both of these could play a significant role in whether or not you wish to move forward. When the risks outweigh the benefits, you can ask your doctor to revise the entire plan immediately.
Several individuals do ask their doctor if they must get a second opinion. Do not worry because such a query hardly has any effect on the flexible practitioners operating for a prolonged period now. It is not bad to seek additional advice if you are not the verge of arriving at an important decision.
Besides the ones stated above, you must make sure to inform the doctor if you smoke or/and drink. This is because the components present in alcohol and cigarette react with certain medications, and lead to more problems.
