What should a doctor explain to Patient when giving a drugs ?
How to take the drug (before food or after food)
What all side effects are likely
What side effects are not to be taken seriously (eg Black Stools in Iron Tablets)
What side effects affect (don’t drive if tablets canuse drowsiness)
Which side effects need Immediate hospital visit (eg Bruise following aspirin)
Any Food to be avoided or taken
All the above have to be explained in detail
But
We also need to understand that
Time need not be wasted with Useless Questions like
1.
Why this drug
(answer is - you have a disease and it is for it)
2.
How does this drug work
(need to learn about pharmacology)
Hope the difference is clear now
–
//What is preventing them from not telling these important details?/
1.
Why they prescribed each of the medication,
2.
why it is important to take it without fail and
3.
why it should always be taken only on doctor’s advise etc.,
//1.
Why they prescribed each of the medication//
Let me explain
In many times
We treat the disease process
Hence It is not possible to tell one action for one medicine or one medicine for one action
It is not possible to tell accurately within 1 hour
and
Any short explanation has the potential of being misunderstood
//2.
why it is important to take it without fail and
3.
why it should always be taken only on doctor’s advise etc., //
because
These two are common sense
If something is not needed
Doctor won’t prescribe it
And
If doctor prescribes it, it is important to take it without fail
and
Medicines must be taken only on doctor’s advice
I don’t think
2 and 3 need to be told every time
It is supposed to be common knowledge
//
aving lived abroad, I see doctors in the USA does explain in layman terms of what they are prescribing and why
//
It is because US system is designed to be against patient
it is a very poor system
To hide the ineffieciencies, they indulge in ego massage
// Will our doctors do the same from now on? //
If we also have sub standard healthcare
To hide the inefficiencies
Such Ego Massage will be needed
Again
I repeat
I am not against Doctor spending Time
But
Time has to be spend for Treatment related issues and not ego massage - That is my point
//What is preventing them from telling these important details?//
THe love for patients
The love to give genuine care
and not substandard care with ego massage
Mariano Anto Burno