Acupuncture doctor shows you how to avoid medical mistakes
In my daily contact with acupuncture and Chinese medicine patients, I often advise them of the many good reasons why they should learn about their illness. You should know about that too. The main reason however is to help you avoid medical mistakes. Sometimes a simple procedure, or a procedure that is performed many times everyday, can go wrong and be disastrous for you. Below are some steps you should take to make sure you do not become a casualty of medical mistakes. Take more responsibility for your own health, your own welfare. You are the only person in charge of your life. You must know about your body, your illness, your health, and how it has changed.Be more involved in your own health care. Do you keep yourself fit, healthy and safe at all times? Do you look after yourself? Do you notice any changes in your health that can be harmful to you and others? Learn more about your illness or condition. But be sure to use reliable sources. There are good sources of information on the internet these days but there are also many bad sources from unqualified people. So if you are going to learn about a medical condition, make sure the website is written by a qualified health professional such as an acupuncture or medical doctor.Speak up if you see, hear or suspect anything that may not be right. Ask if you have any concerns or questions, just ask your health professional or medical doctor.Make a list of all the medicines you take, include the dates you started taking them and the dosages you take. Update the list as you receive changes or new medicines. Also record the date you have stopped taking any medicines. This should be easy nowadays with the availability of computers, printers and photocopiers. Carry a copy with you and show it to your health professional.Know what the medicines are for. Write down next to each medicine that you have listed on your List of Medicines the reason why the medicine was prescribed to you. You want to know for what reason or illness the medicine has been prescribed to you.If medical Tests or Procedures are going to be performedAsk for a copy and always keep a copy for yourself. ther health professionals that you may need to see will need these results.Some time in the future, you may need to compare the results so that you can monitor your progress.If you are going to have Surgery or an OperationDiscuss various options with your doctor if you have to go to hospital. Talk about other options available other than surgery. Is surgery absolutely necessary? Can another modality such as acupuncture or Chinese medicine be just as good?If you have to have an operation, understand what will happen. Try to understand a little about the procedure that will be performed before you have it done.Make sure that you, your doctor and your surgeon, all agree on what is to be done during the surgery.Before you leave the hospital, make sure you know fully what you have to do at home after the operation. Know about the treatment plan you will need to follow.
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