Often, the first step in medical treatment is to diagnose a disease or condition. Once that has been done, the next step is to decide on a treatment plan. There are a number of things to consider when making that decision, including risks, costs and benefits.
Having good communication with doctors and other health professionals is essential for getting the best treatment. Often, misunderstandings can lead to poor decisions or unnecessary treatments. This can cost time and money and can also increase the chance of complications from medical procedures.
While it is important to communicate with doctors, it’s also worth taking the time to educate yourself about medical issues and ask questions. It’s especially helpful to look up information about a disease or condition online. You can also learn about other people’s experiences with a particular treatment, which may be useful in making your own decision.
Many health problems have multiple, complicated causes. The complexity of these causes often leads to conflicting opinions about the best treatment. Many times, the only way to resolve a dispute is to ask a doctor for more information about the cause and how it might be treated. This is called shared decision making, and it involves a process of discussing the pros and cons of different options with a doctor and then reaching an agreement on the treatment that will be most appropriate for you.
People are often told that they need to follow the advice of their doctor, regardless of whether that advice is right for them. This can be frustrating and confusing, particularly for people who have a chronic illness or serious diagnosis. However, following the advice of a doctor can sometimes lead to avoidable harms.
For example, the success of some treatments can encourage doctors to use them more widely than they should. It’s a little like the old saying: ‘to a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.’ For instance, as better medicines have become available for diabetes and high blood pressure, doctors have tended to treat everyone who has slightly elevated levels of these markers, which can have harmful side effects.
Sometimes, it’s also important to take quality of life into account when choosing a treatment. Aggressive cancer therapy, for example, can prolong life, but it can also significantly reduce the quality of that life. Some people choose to pursue that treatment because of their personal values, but others would prefer a more peaceful death.
Medical treatment should always be based on the best available evidence and the best clinical experience. But it’s important to remember that you, not your doctor, is in charge of your health care — so don’t be afraid to fight (nicely!) for the treatments and services that you believe are best for you. For more tips on how to make the best medical treatment choices, check out our article Medical treatment: a guide for patients.