What To Do When You Feel Your California Doctor Does Not Listen
Learn how to get through to your doctor so you know and feel that you are being heard and properly cared for.
When you have a health concern that you are not sure is serious or easily treatable, you will, of course, schedule an appointment with your doctor in California. But what happens when you feel that your medical care provider does not listen to you or wait until you finish describing what is going on? To better prevent medical malpractice and ease your concerns, learn how to communicate with your doctor so that you feel heard.
Make An Outline
Just like you did for writing assignments in school, make an outline of what you would like to discuss with your doctor and bring it with you to your appointment. A study showed that doctors listen to patients discuss what brought them to the office for only 11 seconds before interrupting them. An outline can answer questions your doctor will ask you anyway, such as:
● How often pain, discomfort or your medical condition occurs
● When your issue first started, or when you first noticed it
● If you have experienced anything like this before
● What may have triggered your condition
Your answers and any additional details you provide frame the story your physician needs to know to help get to the bottom of things.
Bring Someone With You
Just because you are an adult does not mean you have outgrown needing someone to accompany you to the doctor. Having someone you trust accompany you can help you figure out a new way to connect with your doctor and ask a question you may not have thought about. Bringing someone with you is also a good idea if you are not the most assertive patient and find that you do not speak up when you need to.
Communication issues and oversights in the medical field can lead to serious injuries, such as paralysis and brain injury. If you feel that you are a victim of medical malpractice in California, no matter how well your doctor may listen to you, know that you have legal options and rights.