How Doctors Think
Understanding what goes on in that fallible white-coat’s head, says How Doctors Think author Jerome Groopman, M.D., can help you receive the best care. Here’re 5 tips on getting more from your checkup.
Beware of getting too chummy A doctor who really likes you may want to spare you a needed procedure because it’s painful. Emotions can blur a doctor’s ability to think.
If you’re incompatible, move on Physicians who dislike a patient close their minds and don’t think well about their problems.
Don’t get stereotyped If you’re a middle-aged woman with two kids, too often doctors attribute symptoms to stress. To prevent this, ask what some other possibilities might be.
Don’t be reassured by “we see this sometimes” Patients should never accept that as a first answer to a serious event. When you hear it, reply: Let’s keep looking.
Ask, “What’s the worst thing this can be?” It’s not neurotic. It can slow the doctor’s pace and help him think broadly. What we say to a physician, and how we say it, sculpts his thinking. [source: People]
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