https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog...are-exert-your-patient-autonomy-2018050713784
May 7, 2018
Patient autonomy: The right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their health care provider trying to influence the decision. Patient autonomy does allow for health care providers to educate the patient but does not allow the health care provider to make the decision for the patient.
This can be a hard line to navigate. In the past, physicians made all the decisions for their patients. They would plan the care, prescribe the treatment, and the patient would either comply or not. The word “comply” is itself pejorative. We have moved into a much more enlightened era of care, and many physicians seek to involve patients, to help them understand treatment options, and to work collaboratively to achieve goals of wellness.
But what if you and your physician don’t agree on the best course of care for you? What if your doctor insists that she knows best, and that your health will be at risk if you don’t follow her advice? Maybe your physician has discouraged you from researching your medical condition yourself. From the physician’s angle, most of us want our patients to understand their illness, be educated on goals of wellness, and be active participants in their own healthcare. But here’s where it gets tricky: physicians study for years to become doctors and bring their scientific knowledge and clinical acumen to the office and the bedside. Patients may not have those skills, but they know their own bodies, tolerance for treatment, and the manner in which they are comfortable receiving care.
Take control of your health care (exert your patient autonomy)
May 7, 2018
- By Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, FAHS, Contributor
When it comes to your health care, how much autonomy is the right amount?
There’s lots of interest in what the term means. Here’s a definition from MedicineNet:Patient autonomy: The right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their health care provider trying to influence the decision. Patient autonomy does allow for health care providers to educate the patient but does not allow the health care provider to make the decision for the patient.
This can be a hard line to navigate. In the past, physicians made all the decisions for their patients. They would plan the care, prescribe the treatment, and the patient would either comply or not. The word “comply” is itself pejorative. We have moved into a much more enlightened era of care, and many physicians seek to involve patients, to help them understand treatment options, and to work collaboratively to achieve goals of wellness.
When you and your doctor don’t see eye to eye on the best health care for you
But what if you and your physician don’t agree on the best course of care for you? What if your doctor insists that she knows best, and that your health will be at risk if you don’t follow her advice? Maybe your physician has discouraged you from researching your medical condition yourself. From the physician’s angle, most of us want our patients to understand their illness, be educated on goals of wellness, and be active participants in their own healthcare. But here’s where it gets tricky: physicians study for years to become doctors and bring their scientific knowledge and clinical acumen to the office and the bedside. Patients may not have those skills, but they know their own bodies, tolerance for treatment, and the manner in which they are comfortable receiving care.
Finding the right doctor
It’s sometimes hard to find a doctor you’re comfortable with, whether it’s for you or your child. Making a list of what’s important to you — whether you have a physician you like now, are uncomfortable in your current treating situation, or are in the process of looking for a new provider — can really help. Ask yourself these questions:- What is my style about health care? Do I want my doctor to tell me what to do, list the options but give me the final choice, or let me describe the medication and plan that I have researched first?
- Would I like someone who is more relational or more boundaried? Do I want a physician who has the style of sharing his own life with me, asks about my life and tries to incorporate who I am as a person as well as a patient, or would I prefer a more businesslike approach? Do I want my physician to tell me if she has the same illness I do, and what it’s like for her, or would I prefer my doctor keep this to herself?
- How much do I want my doctor to know about me as a person? Is that important in the way I want to receive my health care?
- What might happen if I disagree with my doctor? Would that end the treating relationship right there, or could we work through a difference?
