Doctors

Doctors. Doctors are the most important medical professionals you will deal with. They are highly talented and highly knowledgeable people who we trust to figure out what is wrong with us and more importantly, how to fix us.

However, no matter how brilliant and amazing the are, they are still human, and capable of making mistakes, and susceptible to all the same frailties as the rest of us. Often doctors are guilty of arrogance or complacency. I have been a victim of both faults in the past.

So, when it comes to doctors, there are many questions that are raised:-

1. How do I pick a doctor?
2. How can I be sure of his treatment options?
3. When should I change doctors?
4. etc. etc.

This is a massive topic and I will cover as much as I can over the next few posts. Different types of doctor require different attributes too. But for now I will leave you with three important tips when it comes to all doctors.

1. Don't be afraid of your doctor. All to often as patients we put doctors high up on a pedestal. They are not gods and should not be treated as such. They are paid handsomely for their service so don't be afraid to treat them as an equal.
2. If in doubt get a second opinion. It's your body and your health. If you have any doubt, better to be doubly sure.
3. Take charge of your own treatment. Doctors know diseases, you know you! Know yourself exactly what your problem is and what your treatment options are. You know what works best for you and you can discuss this with your doctor.

Next time I will talk about the person everything should start with. Your GP. Until then, stay well:)