As soon as you step into the doctor’s office, you can tell that they’re very busy. Maybe they’re on the phone, maybe they just look flustered or maybe they tell you that they only have a minute.
It seems unfair to you, as you’re not getting the attention you deserve from the doctor. How do you make sure that they listen to you and give you proper treatment?
It starts with communication and respect
One issue that is frustrating when this happens is that you feel like your doctor isn’t respecting you. Always make sure that you show proper respect and talk to your doctor in a courteous manner. When you do, you can often influence them to treat you the same way. It can also help to:
- Ask questions and direct the conversation, rather than just listening.
- Make a list before you even get to the office so that you know exactly what to ask and you never forget anything.
- Don’t be afraid to directly tell the doctor that you still have concerns that you feel like they haven’t talked about yet.
Tell stories when you can. For instance, maybe you have been having dizzy spells. Rather than just saying that you felt dizzy, tell the doctor when it tends to happen, when it first occurred, how bad it is and what you were doing at the time.
If you take this approach, it can help tremendously. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean your doctor won’t make a mistake. If they do, you need an experienced legal team on your side. Missed diagnoses and delayed diagnoses are a form of medical malpractice.
