Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
Prevent unnecessary medical care — by asking your doctor these 4 questions first
By raising questions and taking on a more active role in decision making, patients can do their part to avoid needless medications, tests, treatments or procedures, says neurosurgeon Christer Mjåse…
getpocket.com
As one doctor puts it, “People like me need your help.”
Mjåset believes that both physicians and patients need to be vigilant about excessive care. He says, “A good doctor sometimes says no, but the sensible patient also sometimes turns down an opportunity to get diagnosed or treated.” When he spoke to his colleagues about his patient and her question, they said they’d also never been asked: “Is it necessary?”He suggests 4 questions that we should pose to our doctors the next time they recommend a medication, procedure, test, treatment or surgery.
Is this really necessary?
What are the risks?
Are there other options?
What happens if I don’t do anything?