1. TO HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU WISH
ABOUT THE ILLNESS.
You see the doctor in order to gain an understanding of your
health. It is a service you pay for. You have the right to know
your diagnosis, prognosis, about alternate forms of treatment, what
your doctor recommends and why he believes his recommendations are
the best course of action. If you continue to have problems with
your health and a diagnosis has not been reached, you should have
an explanation of why not. Also, if further tests are needed they
should be explained to you. It *your* body and *your* health that
are at stake here. You wouldn't take your car in to a mechanic and
let him begin tinkering around in the engine without telling you
what he was doing and why first. You shouldn't allow a doctor to do
the equivalent with your body without being informed of what's
going on.
2. TO BE ALLOWED ENOUGH TIME FOR QUESTIONS
AND CONCERNS ABOUT PROBLEMS.
When we first hear our diagnosis or have new medical terms thrown
at us, we are often taken off guard. We tend to forget some of the
information we are told, or don't think of the questions we want to
ask until later. You should have an opportunity both at the initial
visit and at subsequent times to discuss your problems. It is
helpful to write your questions down as you think of them, and take
them with you to refer to, and as a reminder, on your next
visit.
3. TO HAVE REASONABLE ACCESS TO YOUR
DOCTOR.
You and your doctor should agree on what you consider "reasonable
access" in advance. Your idea of what constitutes reasonable access
may widely differ from his. If so, you may be able to reach a
compromise. If not, it's good to find this out early so that you
can find another doctor.
4. TO PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR DECISIONS IN YOUR
CARE.
Participation is not only the right but also the responsibility of
the patient. It is important to be well educated about your illness
and you must ask questions so your decisions are as informed as
possible. You and your family are the main persons affected by your
illness, not your doctor.
5. KNOW YOUR DOCTOR'S NONOFFICE-HOUR
AVAILABILITY AND PROVISIONS FOR COVERAGE OF PATIENTS DURING THOSE
TIMES.
Emergencies, accidents, and crises don't always occur during office
hours. Who is available to cover for your own doctor during nights,
weekends, and holidays? It is a good idea to meet the covering
doctors so you can decide whether you can work with them. If there
are special conditions, treatments, adverse reactions, preferences,
be sure to have your own doctor write them clearly in your chart so
that the covering doctor can refer to them. Remember the substitute
may be your doctor during your most vulnerable and neediest
times.
6. DETERMINE WHO OTHER THAN THE DOCTOR SHALL
HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.
The relationship of the physician and the patient is confidential.
Normally you will be asked to sign a release form authorizing your
files to be released to your insurance companies, or in special
instances to compensation boards, or other physicians. In some
cases where a disease is infectious or otherwise might affect the
health of others (e.g. hepatitis), the doctor is legally obligated
to report the condition to governmental authorities.
7. KNOW IN ADVANCE THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF
CHARGES AND POSSIBLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT.
It is necessary to determine if you can afford the charges and to
find out if your insurance will cover them. It is *not* poor taste
to ask about charges in advance. If you cannot afford the charges,
ask your doctor if they will work out a sliding scale based on your
ability to pay (many will). Determine *exactly* what the charges
include, and whether things such as laboratory tests and x-rays are
included in them. Also, check in *advance* what your insurance will
cover as well as the amount of the deductible.
8. BE SEEN WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OF THE
SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT.
Sometimes unexpected problems and emergencies come up with other
patients that may cause a delay in your appointment time. These
situations can't be helped and aren't the doctor's fault. A
half-hour wait probably isn't unreasonable as long as you are
informed of the delay. If your doctor is chronically late you
should decide if this is just too much of a waste of time or
annoyance to you, and if so, choose another doctor who is able to
keep his apointments within a reasonable amount of time.
9. CHANGE PHYSICIANS IF A BREAKDOWN IN YOUR
RELATIONSHIP OCCURS AND HAVE YOUR RECORDS TRANSFERRED TO YOUR NEW
DOCTOR.
Sometimes things happen. As in any other relatonship there can be
personality conflicts, or perhaps your opinions on how your case
should be treated just don't agree. Or maybe the needed confidence
just isn't there. If this happens, do not allow it to continue.
Find another doctor who you can trust and get along
with.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. DISCLOSE ALL INFORMATION RELATING TO YOUR
ILLNESS TO THE DOCTOR.
If you withhold information, the doctor can't be expected to make
an accurate diagnosis and begin proper treatment. Not telling him
everything could even result in potentially dangerous therapy or
tests. The information you give the doctor should be confidential
and should not be used for any purpose other than to provide for
your treatment.
2. KEEP OFFICE APPOINTMENTS OR CANCEL WELL IN
ADVANCE.
Just as it's unfair for your doctor not to keep his appointments
promptly, it's unfair for you to be late or to just not show up. If
you're going to be late, please call ahead and let them know. If
you need to cancel, please try to do so 24 hours in advance so that
someone else will be able to make an appointment in your
place.
3. PLAN YOUR VISIT WITH THE DOCTOR.
Think about and write down any questions you may have in advance so
that you can refer to them during your visit. Think about your
symptoms carefully, so that you can give informed answers to the
doctor's questions.
4. STOP THE DOCTOR WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT HE IS EXPLAINING AND ASK FOR A SIMPLER EXPLANATION.
The doctor won't know you don't understand unless you tell him. He
won't think you're stupid if you ask him for clarification, and
will probably appreciate the fact that you want to be informed
about your health. Doctors are used to thinking in obscure medical
terms, and tend to forget that not everyone knows what they are
talking about. It's okay to slow him down and get the information
in terms you understand.
5. ASK QUESTIONS.
This is both a right and a responsibility. You need to ask the
questions you want answers to. The doctor can't read your
mind.
6. FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S ADVICE AND REPORT
QUICKLY ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THERAPY, COMPLICATIONS FROM TESTS,
OR WORSENING SYMPTOMS.
If you aren't going to follow the doctor's advice, why are you
seeing him in the first place? If you disagree with the treatment
suggested, you should discuss this with the doctor, rather than
just going home and not following his advice. If there are problems
with the treatment, the doctor needs to be informed so that changes
can be made.
7. LIMIT PHONE CALLS BETWEEN VISITS TO
PROBLEMS WITH ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THERAPY, COMPLICATONS, OR
WORSENING SYMPTOMS, OR OTHER MATTERS WHICH YOU HAVE AGREED ON IN
ADVANCE.
It's important to keep the doctor informed of problems with your
treatment. It's also important not to "bug" him. Often doctors will
wait several hours to return nonemergency calls so as not to
interrupt ward rounds, patient visits, and so on. Don't be too
impatient if the secretary has taken a message; the doctor will get
it and return your call. If the doctor does *not* return your call
at all, then you have every right to be upset about it and need to
discuss your concerns about this with them.
8. PAY AGREED-UPON CHARGES PROMPTLY OR IN A
WAY MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES.
Just as you are obtaining a service from your doctor, he has the
right to expect payment from you or your insurance company. Make
arrangements for payment before your visit. If your response to
treatment is less than you expected, or if you are not "cured", it
should not be taken out on the doctor by not paying him.