Serious illness demands honesty, not false reassurance from doctors

Serious illness demands honesty, not false reassurance from doctors (Photo: iStock)

What you read in this column is mostly about health advice that relates to you as an individual. But as it's often the case, your doctor tends to be on the other side of the equation. What your doctor ends up telling you about your health matters. Still, what the doctor shouldn't be telling you may even matter more. Let's look at what a recent publication highlighted on words and phrases your doctor should not be saying to you while navigating a serious illness.

Top on the list, doctors should speak less and listen to you more. As a patient you need to feel that you are being heard by your doctor, so that all your health goals can be incorporated into any treatment plans. A doctor who rarely listens to you, and appears to be in a rush to recommend one treatment or another, is likely to ignore your own wishes and desires. You may end up not getting individualised optimal treatment that would suit you best.