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AlaskaAngel · 07-14-2008, 10:44 AM

Hi,

I want to make a suggestion that I think will work out better for both doctors and patients.

Maybe the problems I've had are partly the result of my personality (for better or worse), but throughout all of it, there were just 2 major difficulties I ran into and both were due to the same root problem -- not being given the chance to see my medical test results PLUS not simply asking to see them at the time. I don't mean just making sure to get copies as you go. I mean at the time when you are there to discuss them with the doctor. If he is discussing the results with you, he has a copy and has seen them, whereas you, the patient, are at a disadvantage because you don't have a copy in front of you and haven't had the time he has had to review it and think about it.

So my advice is, when the discussion begins, simply ask him to give YOU a copy right then and there.

The best docs I've had were those who gave me a copy before I even asked, when I sat down to begin the discussion about the test results. And those docs were the ones I've had the fewest resulting misunderstandings with.

It seems like such a simple, obvious thing to do. But most of us don't do it because we don't think of it at the time, or we are politely waiting for help from the doctor.

AlaskaAngel

07-14-2008, 10:44 AM	#6
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	Suggestion Hi, I want to make a suggestion that I think will work out better for both doctors and patients. Maybe the problems I've had are partly the result of my personality (for better or worse), but throughout all of it, there were just 2 major difficulties I ran into and both were due to the same root problem -- not being given the chance to see my medical test results PLUS not simply asking to see them at the time. I don't mean just making sure to get copies as you go. I mean at the time when you are there to discuss them with the doctor. If he is discussing the results with you, he has a copy and has seen them, whereas you, the patient, are at a disadvantage because you don't have a copy in front of you and haven't had the time he has had to review it and think about it. So my advice is, when the discussion begins, simply ask him to give YOU a copy right then and there. The best docs I've had were those who gave me a copy before I even asked, when I sat down to begin the discussion about the test results. And those docs were the ones I've had the fewest resulting misunderstandings with. It seems like such a simple, obvious thing to do. But most of us don't do it because we don't think of it at the time, or we are politely waiting for help from the doctor. AlaskaAngel