You can take charge of your own health

They say it is important for one to understand the need to speak up, and get their voices heard in matters that concern them.

While this is much pronounced in social and political settings, it is important that you also develop the habit of speaking up when interacting with healthcare providers. Let’s look at a typical scenario where you as the patient gets to interact with a healthcare provider. Now, you come in with some illness and got to tell your story. The doctor asks a few questions, looks you over and makes some recommendations. You dutifully obey the orders to get some tests done, take some medications, and come back after a while for review. Did you really play any active role in the decisions that were made about you? Or did you just sit back and accept everything? After all, the doctors know best. Do they really?

You must always play an active role, and be involved as much as possible, in arriving at decisions that impact on your health. That means having a basic understanding of what ails you. Then listening to your doctor’s analysis with a critical mind. You must then engage your doctor into a conversation about your illness. That means asking questions, clarifying recommendations, and enquiring about alternate treatment options. You should never forget that having no treatment is always an option.

Remember that your consent should always be sought prior to any medical interventions. The only exception to this rule is in emergency situations that warrant immediate action to save life. You can only give consent once you have fully understood what the treatment entails. Your decision to consent must be informed by the immediate and longterm effects of the proposed treatment, costs, complications, and many other factors. You should never accept persuasion to accept one option over another, or getting hurried to make quick decisions.

I have been asked several times whether speaking up could be misinterpreted as unnecessarily questioning your doctor. Well, that shouldn’t be the case in modern medical practice.

Granted, some doctors may have bloated egos, while others may not be too confident in engaging you in a two-way conversation. If your doctor isn’t willing to engage with you for combined decision making about your medical interventions, you may wish to get your care elsewhere. Never allow yourself to get intimidated by healthcare providers. Take charge of your own care, and get your treatment personalized to your unique characteristics. This paves the way for better healthcare. You play the most important role in the ever changing dynamics of your own healthcare. Without your input, the wrong decisions can be made by seemingly competent care providers. You also have the right to decline treatment recommendations, even when these are deemed to be in your best interests. And speak up for others as well, especially children and those whom may be mentally incompetent.