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Should You Trust Your Doctor? The Suspicion Shadowing Medical Decisions


A very uneasy and uncomfortable situation these days is patients viewing their doctor with suspicion whenever extensive and expensive diagnostic procedures are prescribed. In fact an increasing number of patients believe that their doctor is doing it not for the patient's medical condition but for his/her pecuniary benefits or to achieve "targets" set by their management.

Remember it is not always about the money and there are many factors that influence this.

Doctors make treatment decisions based on various factors:

  • Your individual medical history and current symptoms
  • Potential underlying causes of your condition
  • The severity of your condition and risk factors
  • Available evidence-based guidelines and best practices
  • Individual considerations and patient preferences

Many factors influence the number of investigations:

  • Complex or undiagnosed conditions may require more extensive investigations.
  • Different treatment approaches may involve various medications, depending on the condition and individual needs.
  • Defensive medicine refers to the practice of ordering unnecessary tests, prescriptions, or procedures due to fear of lawsuits or malpractice claims, not necessarily because they are in the best interest of the patient's health. This happens due to:
  • Fear of litigation: In certain healthcare systems, doctors face high malpractice insurance premiums and the threat of lawsuits can influence their decisions.
  • Uncertainty in diagnosis: Sometimes, definitive diagnosis might require more tests to rule out possibilities, even if some are not strictly necessary.
  • Lack of clear guidelines: In complex cases, clear evidence-based guidelines might not be available, leaving room for different interpretations and influencing how cautious a doctor chooses to be.

What you can do:

  1. Talk to your doctor: Express your concerns directly and openly. Ask why he/she recommended these specific investigations and medications. Understanding the rationale behind the decisions can alleviate your worries.
  2. Discuss alternatives: If you're uncomfortable with any recommendations, inquire about potential alternatives or if some interventions can be delayed or avoided.
  3. Seek second opinion: If you're still unsure, consider seeking a second opinion from another doctor to gain additional perspectives.

Remember, open communication with your doctor is crucial for building trust and ensuring you feel comfortable and informed about your treatment plan. Don't hesitate to ask questions and voice your concerns. That's much better than brewing suspicion that erodes trust....and Trust is the most vital element in a Doctor-Patient relationship.

And as Orthopaedic Surgeons we should be ready to shed our God-Complex and be ready to describe in detail and explain all possibilities and options to the patient. The decision should be the patient's and so is the responsibility of the outcome of that decision.

Dr. Naveen Chowdary Tummala

SCOT: Dr. Naveen's Bone and Joint Clinic, Sholinganallur.

9094567894, 9094567893

GOOGLE PAGE

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