By
Boruch Asher
The fast answer is you wouldn't.
Unless you have some medical training there is no way to tell if what your doctor is telling you, or prescribing for you, is valid or effective, at first glance.
Most patients trust their physician and accept what he says on faith, based on his previous track record or reputation. However, medical conditions often improve despite the treatment; and a doctor's reputation is often based on what patients and not peers think of him.
Most patients appreciate a stern authoritative approach. Since they do not have sufficient medical knowledge to actually assess competence, they assume a physician with such an approach is competent and recommend him to relatives and friends.
Such a physician even if incompetent, can enjoy much success, since patients discuss medical errors much less often than accomplishments by their own doctor. Discussing his errors would be admitting their poor ability to choose a good doctor, i.e. one who is generally perceived as incapable of committing errors.
What can you do to improve your ability to both select a competent physician and detect if he is committing medical errors or delivering inappropriate care?
Ask educated questions derived by checking your diagnosis and its accepted treatments from reliable sources i.e. ahrq.gov, fda.gov, pubmed.gov, and some commercial medical information sites.
Also, discuss your doctor and treatment on a reliable medical error information site forum and see what others who may have had similar experiences or more medical knowledge than friends and relatives think.
However, please do not take information obtained to be actual medical advice, but only issues to discuss with your health care provider or a second medical opinion if necessary.
Unless you have some medical training there is no way to tell if what your doctor is telling you, or prescribing for you, is valid or effective, at first glance.
Most patients trust their physician and accept what he says on faith, based on his previous track record or reputation. However, medical conditions often improve despite the treatment; and a doctor's reputation is often based on what patients and not peers think of him.
Most patients appreciate a stern authoritative approach. Since they do not have sufficient medical knowledge to actually assess competence, they assume a physician with such an approach is competent and recommend him to relatives and friends.
Such a physician even if incompetent, can enjoy much success, since patients discuss medical errors much less often than accomplishments by their own doctor. Discussing his errors would be admitting their poor ability to choose a good doctor, i.e. one who is generally perceived as incapable of committing errors.
What can you do to improve your ability to both select a competent physician and detect if he is committing medical errors or delivering inappropriate care?
Ask educated questions derived by checking your diagnosis and its accepted treatments from reliable sources i.e. ahrq.gov, fda.gov, pubmed.gov, and some commercial medical information sites.
Also, discuss your doctor and treatment on a reliable medical error information site forum and see what others who may have had similar experiences or more medical knowledge than friends and relatives think.
However, please do not take information obtained to be actual medical advice, but only issues to discuss with your health care provider or a second medical opinion if necessary.
http://www.MDErrors.com
This website offers users the unique opportunity to post messages and share information with others regarding the occurrence and prevention of medical errors. If this is your first visit, you can visit the FAQ section to get answers to frequently asked questions. To discuss whether you might have the wrong diagnosis, medicine and/or doctor, please visit our forum section.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Boruch_Asher
This website offers users the unique opportunity to post messages and share information with others regarding the occurrence and prevention of medical errors. If this is your first visit, you can visit the FAQ section to get answers to frequently asked questions. To discuss whether you might have the wrong diagnosis, medicine and/or doctor, please visit our forum section.
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