Would you rather be more prepared during medical appointments?
Patients go to doctor visits and sit silently through the entire appointment. They leave with unanswered questions and a feeling of being rushed or even dismissed.
But what happens when they get a misdiagnosis or medical mistake? Serious injury. Permanent disability. Death.
The good news? Speaking up during medical appointments is something every patient should do. And it can genuinely save lives.
What you’re going to learn:
- Why Speaking Up Is More Important Than Ever Before
- How Medical Errors Cause Injuries To Patients Every Year
- What Does The Medical Malpractice Statute Of Limitations Mean?
- 5x Tips To Better Advocate For Yourself
Why Speaking Up Is More Important Than Ever Before
Here’s the deal…
Patients want to trust their doctors. That trust is necessary for any doctor-patient relationship to work. However, what happens when patients blindly trust a doctor’s word without asking questions?
Errors happen. Patients experience adverse medical effects from these errors every year. According to research from the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence, 12 million Americans experience diagnostic errors each year.
That’s insane!
How can patients prevent medical errors?
By speaking up.
Doctors see hundreds of patients every day. They’re human. Mistakes are made. But your body is yours and you know when something is wrong.
Ask questions about diagnoses. Request further tests if you’re not happy with the results. Push back on treatment if something doesn’t feel right. YOU are your own best advocate.
Simple communication can save lives.
How Medical Errors Cause Harm To Patients
Every year thousands, if not millions, of families are affected by medical errors.
A study from Johns Hopkins found that medical errors cause approximately 250,000 deaths per year. That’s more deaths than cancer, diabetes, drug overdose, motor vehicle accidents and chopped onions combined.
Medical errors can include:
- Misdiagnosis
- Mistreated illnesses
- Surgical errors
- Medication mix ups
Many of these fall into medical negligence. Basically, doctors do not provide the standard of care that every patient is entitled to. The medical malpractice statute of limitations is the window of time a patient has to take legal action against their doctor following an accident.
Patients should know this because you only have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit against your healthcare provider.
As you could have probably guessed by now, most of these errors could have been avoided if the patient was more involved in their healthcare.
Again. Patient advocacy saves lives.
Speak Up = Better Patient Advocacy & Healthy Outcomes
Patient advocacy isn’t a myth. There’s actual data that proves it works.
Patients that speak up during medical appointments give doctors a clearer picture of their symptoms. This allows doctors to make a more accurate diagnosis, order less unnecessary testing and craft better treatment plans.
Here’s why…
- Doctors can’t fix what they don’t know is wrong
- What may be “insignificant” to you could be a red flag to them
- Asking questions forces doctors to think about your condition more closely
- You can seek a second opinion if you’re not happy with the diagnosis
Doctors are people too and simply forget to ask questions sometimes. When you’re the one in the exam room suffering, it becomes easy to forget things. Writing down a list of symptoms and questions before the appointment can help.
Patients that advocate for themselves aren’t difficult to work with. They’re smart.
Speak Up: 5x Tips To Advocating During Medical Appointments
Alright. You got the reasons why speaking up is important. Let’s focus on how to speak up during medical appointments.
These tips are great for any upcoming doctor’s appointment you have. Start using one or two today.
Come To Each Appointment Prepared
Walking into a doctor’s appointment clueless is asking for trouble. Whether you’re making your first appointment with a new doctor or you have been seeing the same doctor for years, walk in with a written list of symptoms and questions.
Here are some ideas on what to write down:
- All current symptoms and when they started
- All medications you’re taking including supplements
- Questions about tests, diagnosis, or treatment
- Family history of certain illnesses
Once you have this list created, you’ll feel 100% confident going into your appointment. You’ll remember everything you wanted to discuss with doctors and leave feeling accomplished.
Ask For Explanations
Medicine these days is incredibly complicated. If you don’t understand what the doctor is telling you, ask them to explain it using different words.
Repeat back to the doctor what they said to ensure you understand their explanation. There is no shame in asking for more information.
The worst thing a doctor can say is, “I don’t know.” They’ve been there before.
Request Documentation
Once you leave the appointment, ask your doctor to provide you with written documentation of what they told you.
Medical visits should always be documented. Whether it be diagnosis, treatment plans, or medication prescribed — you have the right to access those records.
Having your own documentation is huge if a medical error occurs. Continuity of care is important as you may visit multiple doctors that specialize in treating your illness. Medical records allow you to have all previous documentation in one place.
Plus, it’s another reminder to take your meds.
Bring Someone With You
Don’t be afraid to bring a friend or family member to your appointment. Doctors can get cranky when other people are in the room. However, you aren’t there to make friends with your doctor.
Bringing someone with you to your appointment can help you remember all the information provided by your doctor.
Get A Second Opinion
Gotta love modern medicine. You can be misdiagnosed time and time again.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the diagnosis or treatment plan your doctor provides, seek a second opinion.
Now that you know how to speak up during medical appointments. Take that knowledge and use it.
Know Your Patient Rights
You have rights as a patient and it’s important to know what they are.
Patient rights include:
- Right to access your medical records
- Right to refuse treatment
- Right to seek a second opinion
- Right to file a complaint against your healthcare provider
Knowing your patient rights is just as important as speaking up during your appointment.
If you or a loved one was a victim of a medical error, you should know your rights. Medical malpractice statute limitations is the deadline you have to file a lawsuit against your healthcare provider.
If you wait too long, you could lose your right to sue them completely.
Knowledge is power, friends. Educate yourself on your patient rights.
Final Thoughts
You have the power to save your own life.
Speaking up during medical appointments is free and holds so much value. Preparation and education are everything in today’s society.
Here’s your checklist once again:
- Come to appointments prepared
- Ask doctors to explain things to you
- Request documentation at the end of every visit
- Bring someone with you to appointments
- Always get a second opinion
Doctors are humans and unfortunately, mistakes are made. However, patients that speak up during their appointments allow doctors to better understand their condition which could prevent those mistakes from happening.
You’re your own best advocate. Speak up.