Many individuals trust their doctors to take the necessary steps to render an appropriate diagnosis of their condition. They don’t stop to think about how doctors are human and make mistakes. They do, though. There are steps that all of us, as patients, can take to minimize the chances of our doctors misdiagnosing us.
Your physician likely sees 100 or more clients per week. They’re often under tight time constraints when they come into the room to see you. They may not have time to review all questionnaires, test results and appointment notes before they head in to see you. You need to be prepared to give them the rundown of what’s going on and a refresher on your family history.
Doctors often ask very few questions about what ails you before ordering a battery of tests. While a complete blood panel, for example, may rule out some conditions, your results may bring about even more questions. If your doctor orders for you to undergo a wide variety of tests, then this may be a sign that you two need to discuss your family history at a greater length to help them better narrow in on what’s going on with you.
A report previously published in the New York Times suggested that doctors are incorrect in their interpretation of imaging or tests and analysis of pathology specimens at least 40% of all cases. You should be skeptical of any test results and come armed with questions. If a test is inconclusive or produces unexpected results, then you ask your doctor to order a new one or a different one that produces reliable results.
It’s a doctor’s responsibility to ask their patients questions to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Patients have to be proactive and inquire about things as well, though. They should also seek out a second opinion before agreeing to undergo any invasive procedure or radical treatment.
Patients do themselves a disservice when they place all the burden of determining what ails them on their Greenville doctor’s shoulders. You must collaborate with your doctor to discover what’s going on and what it’s going to take to overcome it, so you can move on with your life. An attorney can advocate for you if you’ve done your part and your North Carolina doctor still failed you.