William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1999-08-01 / 8. szám
Speak lip & c The more effectively you and your doctor communicate, the better off you'll be Like a good marriage, a good doctor-patient relationship is built on communication. Each party in the relationship must speak in terms that the other will understand. Each must listen carefully when the other party speaks And each must ask questions when something communicated is not understood. It seems simple, but effective communication takes effort and practice. There may be no more important element affecting your relationship with your doctor—and the state of your health—than being willing and able to give your doctor all the information he or she needs about your health and being able to understand what your doctor tells you. Dr. Stephen Barrett, founder of Quackwatch, Inc. (see related story at right), offers some advice on how to improve communication with your physician. I) Be organized and detailed. Tell your doctor about your present symptoms and relevant past history in a detailed, organized manner. Dr. Barrett recommends you start with your most important problem and raise any particular concerns you may have at the beginning of your visit. Take note of all medications you are taking and their dosages. Bring the bottles to your appointment. 2) Take notes. "Patients typically forget much of what they are told in a doctor's office," Dr. Barrett says. Take notes or use a tape recorder (if your doctor says its okay). 3) Share your feelings. If you're embarrassed, afraid or even resentful about something, share those feelings with your doctor. If you're shy about certain parts of your body or are concerned about something your doctor said, then mention it. 4) Voice your doubts. Don't like your doctor's diagnosis or treatment? Say so. "If a particular treatment is objectionable, the physician may be able to suggest an acceptable alternative," Dr. Barrett says. Ask for a second opinion if you think it might be warranted. 5) Ask questions. Physicians know more about medicine than we do, "but are not always good communicators," Dr. Barrett says. If something is unclear to you, ask questions. Don't let your doctor talk down to you. You are a partner in your medical care and have a right to fully understand your doctor's diagnosis and proposed treatment plan. Dialing your doctor: The communication tips above are also important to follow when calling your doctor on the phone. Organize your thoughts before you call. Write down any instructions the doctor gives you. Dr. Barrett also suggests calling early in the day. "When you call, don't start by asking to speak with the doctor," he suggests. "The receptionist and nurses are trained to assemble the information needed for a preliminary evaluation of the situation." Doctor on the watch for quacks More and more people are turning to “alternative” medicine to treat their health problems. Some people would rather place their trust in herbs, vitamins, magnets, pyramids and acupuncture, than in science-based medicine. Dr. Stephen Barrett says such people are placing their trust—and their good health-in the wrong hands. Fed up with the trend away from science and toward alternatives, Dr. Barrett founded in 1969 the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud. The purpose of the non-profit corporation was to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads and fallacies. In 1997, it assumed its current name: Quackwatch, Inc. Quackwatch’s primary weapon in the battle against alternative medicine is the internet. It operates three web sites, all maintained by Dr. Barrett with help from volunteers. The sites take a no-holdsbarred approach in an effort to expose what Dr. Barrett sees as misleading, unsubstantiated and even dangerous medical information and practices His pro-science stance is unwavering. For this he is seen as extreme and narrow-minded by his many detractors (whose opinions appear on his web site). Still, Dr. Barrett offers much sound medical advice and, if anything, makes those who visit his web sites think twice before pursuing alternative forms of medical treatment. If you have access to the internet, you can judge for yourself whether Dr. Barrett is providing a vital service, or is a quack himself, by logging onto: O www.quackwatch.com William IVnn Lile, August 1999 5
