-yeah, I want my knees fixed. NOW!
The important part is how better-informed patients address their physician. Typically, good doctors do not resent, and in fact appreciate it when patients understand something of what is going on.
A large percentage of patients are “I hurt, fix it” types, who neither know no care how or why.
Others are very cost conscious, so are very intent on the price of various treatment alternatives.
Self-diagnosticians are often annoying, as are hypochondriacs, because they have unrealistic expectations of both what is wrong with them, and how to deal with it.
Importantly, physicians are *not* pharmacists, so never assume that their knowledge of pharmacology *or* drug interactions, *or* non-drug interactions are adequate.
Typically, physicians are far less interested in patient input for acute conditions than chronic conditions. Acute conditions usually need prompt and immediate care, but there is a lot more flexibility with chronic complaints.
However, for *some* acute conditions, such as heart attack and stroke, hospitals and emergency rooms vary wildly as to their typical course of treatment. If a patient has a strong inclination to such a condition, it is not unreasonable to find out what the standards are in local hospitals ahead of time. It could be the difference between life and death.
For complex and chronic problems, especially those that are undergoing extensive research and development, like arthritis, it is wise to do Internet research, then ask your physician about specific therapies, what they think of them.
For decades now, medical knowledge has grown at such a rapid clip that it is next to impossible for practicing physicians to keep up to date, and there is a good chance you might find something new and interesting to them. Be sure to save the URL, as they will need to see it for themselves.
bttt
“Patients have come to expect miracles in medicine as the norm, yet these miracles are not without inherent risk,” cautions Mason.
IOW-they demand immediate satisfaction or else. Many patients have watched one too many episodes of ER.
You rang?