Knowing how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment can be difficult. I have been dealing with this for years, and still sometimes find it difficult. However, creating a patient-physician alliance where you work together is part of a comprehensive wellness plan. To participate in this, you must be able to advocate for your own needs and desires. Here’s how to stand up for yourself at a doctor’s appointment.
Why is it so hard to stand up for yourself at a doctor’s appointment?
There are many reasons why it is difficult to stand up for yourself in front of a doctor. Sometimes, it is related to the doctor, sometimes the patient and sometimes the situation.
Of course, some doctors are more difficult to advocate in front of them than others. Some doctors have an old mentality where the doctor is a father figure. In other words, it is the parent and the patient is the child. The child then just does what the parent says without question.
This is the way doctor-patient interactions used to be. Obviously, such doctors are less receptive to you advocating for your own mental health. However, most doctors realize that this is no longer the best way.
In other cases, some patients simply have a very difficult time standing on their own, period. No matter the doctor or the situation, the patient just won’t talk. This could be because the person is seriously ill with something like depression or extreme anxiety, or it could just be a person’s personality.
Finally, sometimes, the condition itself breeds an inability to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment. For example, if you don’t know what you want or don’t know enough about why you’re getting treatment, it can be impossible to know how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment.
Why you need to know how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment
It’s not just about defending yourself. it is actually an improved prognosis. When you have a better doctor-patient relationship, your potential outcome actually improves. Look here:
In the literature, much of the onus is placed on the physician to make this happen, and that’s fair as they are professionals, but as two people form a relationship, I would suggest that patients also bear some responsibility.
What you need to know to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment
There are fundamental things to understand before discussing how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment. These include:
Tips on how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment
Here are some tips on how to advocate for yourself at a doctor’s appointment:
- Consider the factors that may stand in your way (eg knowledge, anxiety, etc.). Make a plan for how to overcome these obstacles.
- Think about what you want from your doctor’s appointment. Why are you attending? What are your goals? What do you need to communicate? What information do you need from them?
- Write down everything you need to consider during an appointment in advance. (This may include appointment goals, questions, information about side effects, etc.) Take this information with you. (It’s common to forget these things in front of a doctor without being reminded.)
- Consider bringing someone to your appointment to help advocate for you. Sometimes, it’s easier to defend ourselves with a backup in the room. Or, sometimes, another person can support us more effectively than we can,
- Be upfront with your doctor during your appointment. Make sure your doctor knows what you need. There cannot be a successful alliance with you without your active participation.
- Have your doctor write their recommendations on your chart — especially if you don’t agree with them. For example, if you feel you need a test and your doctor won’t ask for it, tell your doctor you want them to write it in your chart. If your doctor unreasonably refuses a test, they will often back down if they believe there will be a written report.
What if your doctor doesn’t listen to you?
Unfortunately, sometimes, no matter how good a job you do of advocating for yourself, some doctors just don’t listen, are unreasonable, or seem uninterested in a positive doctor-patient relationship. If you’ve tried your best and the relationship isn’t working out, ask for a referral to someone else. Your doctor is not doing you a favor by treating you. Your doctor, in fact, works for you. You have the right to fire them if they are not earning their money. (Yes, I know this isn’t always possible. But it’s worth doing any way you can.)
No matter what, though, keep supporting yourself and your health. You are the one who has to live with your health and treatment – not your doctor.
Image by Flickr user Vic.
