Participating in Medical Decision Making
To participate fully in the medical decision making process, a person needs to work closely with his doctor. A person may wish to obtain additional information about a recommended test or treatment before making a decision. Information can be obtained from pamphlets, brochures, and other materials the doctor provides; publications such as books, newsletters, and magazines designed to explain medical information to consumers; and from the Internet. The person should read the information carefully, keeping in mind the potential sources of bias in the information. For example, anecdotal information may indicate a treatment is helpful, but it may not be helpful for everyone. These resources may generate additional questions for the person to discuss with his doctor (see Section 1, Chapter 4). The person may also want to consult with another doctor, particularly one who has additional expertise (second opinion).
The person should also be very clear in expressing his choices to the doctor, especially if he has a condition, such as a terminal illness, that may make it impossible for him to express his wishes at some point later on (see Section 1, Chapter 9).
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