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Coming to Your Doctor with Health Information
With all the information available on the Internet, many people are
now turning to health websites to get health information. You may
hear about things on the Internet that your doctor has not told you
about. How do you bring this information to your doctor in a way
that will make him that you will be taken seriously?
The Problem
The field of medicine is undergoing rapid change. Your doctor may
not be able to keep up with all the changes occurring, and he may
not be aware of some of the information that you may bring in. You
need a way to present this information to your doctor without
insulting him. Some doctors, in order to cover up their ignorance,
may say that they have heard of what you're talking about, but it
isn't a good treatment. Others will just dismiss whatever you say,
even if it is correct.
The Solution
If you are getting your information from the Internet, bring a printout
with you to your doctor's visit. Tell your doctor that you have heard
of a new treatment option, and you are interested in pursuing it.
Give him the printout and allow him time to read it.
Remember that physicians specializing in allopathic medicine will
know little to nothing about herbal remedies and alternative
medicine. This does not mean they are uninformed; it just means it
is out of their field. Another thing to keep in mind is that anything
you read on a newsgroup is hearsay, and may not be true. The
best place to get your information from is a reliable health website
or PubMed, a searchable index of scientific journals. Your doctor
may need to see things in medical lingo, so an accredited
scientific journal is a good place to look.
The most important thing to remember is that you should be
respectful when bringing information to your doctor, but dont be
bashful. While your doctor may not have heard of what you're
asking about, if you are not confrontational, your doctor may be
more willing to do some research and to find out if your information
can be applied to your situation.
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