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Tell ALL
Your
Doctors
What You
Think!
Last week
I had a light bulb moment I want
to share with you. It goes back
to the reason I do my advocacy
work, so I’ll start there. Bear
with me if you know the story.
A few
years ago, I found a lump on my
torso. It was removed by a
surgeon and biopsied. The result
was a diagnosis of a rare,
aggressive cancer. My oncologist
told me to begin chemo
treatments immediately or I
would be dead in six months.
I was
floored, scared, and began
asking questions. But the
oncologist had no interest in
listening to me. He was arrogant
and condescending. When I told
him I wanted a second opinion,
he bellowed, "What you have is
so rare, no one will know any
more about it than I do!"
But I did
find another doctor who knew
more, and he helped me prove I
had been misdiagnosed. I didn’t
have cancer! It was then I
decided to help others advocate
for themselves, too.
Fast
forward to last week when I saw
the surgeon for the first time
since my ordeal. During our
conversation he asked about my
experience with the oncologist
he had referred me to. That was
when the light bulb switched on.
If you’re
a regular reader of this column,
you know I encourage patients to
provide feedback to their
doctors about their experiences
working with them. It’s one way
to improve communication between
patients and their healthcare
providers. Further, if a doctor
can’t help you, is
disrespectful, or unwilling to
partner with you, I suggest you
find another doctor.
The
surgeon’s question provided me
with an opportunity to take my
feedback a step further. I
explained how Dr. Arrogant had
treated me; how I had felt
belittled and disrespected.
Therefore, I had found another
oncologist. The surgeon was
clearly uncomfortable.
Why is
this story important to you?
Sharp patients will stand up for
themselves by telling a doctor
if they are uncomfortable with
his behavior. It’s not easy! But
doing so may encourage a doctor
to be more respectful.
Then when
possible, try to take that
feedback a step further by
sharing it with the person who
made the referral. The referring
doctor may think twice before
endorsing such a difficult
doctor again. You may be
protecting another patient from
suffering a similar experience.
~ © 2007 Trisha
Torrey
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