I have the right to be treated respectfully, and not be patronized, by doctors, health care practitioners and their staff.

I have the right to ask questions, and have them answered respectfully and clearly by doctors and health practitioners.

I have the right to be seen promptly, and not be kept waiting more than a few minutes for my scheduled appointment with my doctor or health care practitioner, because my time is valuable.

I have the right to expect that my doctor or practitioner will have read information I send in advance of an appointment, and be prepared to discuss the material with me, not read it during the appointment and leave mere seconds, if any time at all, for discussion and followup.

I have the right to have my phone calls to my doctor or health care practitioner returned promptly and courteously. I should not have to call multiple times in order to get a call back.

I have the right to expect that while all doctors may not be familiar with the Internet, they will understand that the Internet can be a tremendous source of valid and valuable medical information -- including NIH databases, major medical journals, and health information from the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, and specialized thyroid cancer support and information, among others -- and not ignorantly dismiss everything found on the Internet as coming from "quacks and snake oil salesman."

I have the right to receive results from and/or copies of any and all lab tests that are conducted on my behalf.

I have the right to receive test results and copies without the doctor, practitioner or staff making it difficult or telling me "you just need to know it's normal," or "why would you want the results?"

I have the right to be told if my doctor or practitioner is receiving research funding, honoraria, conference trips, or any freebies, perks or other items of value from particular pharmaceutical manufacturers.

I have the right to pursue complementary and alternative therapies without snide remarks or derogatory attitudes from my doctor.

I have the right, if I have any symptoms of or risk factors for thyroid disease, to have a complete thyroid evaluation and blood test conducted without having to request it multiple times.

I have the right to suggest that perhaps I need a thyroid test without being told that I'm doing "the doctor's job" or be brushed off.

I have the right to describe my thyroid symptoms and risk factors and be taken seriously by my doctor, instead of being dismissed as stressed, depressed, PMSed, lazy, not getting enough sleep, anxiety-filled, or "just getting older."

I have the right to be told the full range of possible symptoms of my thyroid problem, not to frighten me, but to inform me, and help me know when I might be undertreated or shifting out of range.

I have the right to expect that when I ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, my general practitioner or internist will not assume he or she knows all there is to know about thyroid disease, and refuse to refer me.

I have the right to expect that my endocrinologist will take as much interest in understanding and staying up to date on thyroid disease as he/she takes in diabetes, or other endocrine diseases he/she might find more profitable.

If I am prescribed thyroid hormone replacement, I have the right to be told that there are other brands of levothyroxine besides Synthroid, and I have the right to be told that there are different drugs for thyroid hormone replacement -- still legal, still FDA approved and still prescribed -- such as Thyrolar, Cytomel, and natural thyroid products.

I have the right to have doctors not categorically dismiss health complaints -- such as depression, weight gain and hair loss -- as unrelated to my thyroid when I explain that I never had them before developing thyroid disease.

I have the right to be believed when I tell my doctor that I cannot lose weight on low-calorie, low-fat, high-activity diet and exercise plans since developing a thyroid problem.

I have the right to expect that patient organizations willing to take my money and sign me up as a member will represent the interests of thyroid patients, and not the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture thyroid- related drugs.

I have the right to expect that patient organizations will seriously investigate both conventional and alternative treatment options beyond what is already known, and also look for ways to halt, reverse, or even cure thyroid disease.

I have the right to expect that the medical establishment will either produce definitive research that demonstrates that thyroid hormone replacement using synthetic T4 is superior in every way to the supplemental use of T3 drugs, or they will stop making these unfounded claims for which they have no definitive evidence.

I have the right to be told the truth by my doctors, and not misled to believe that drugs like Armour Thyroid are "off the market," or "not sold anymore," or that "no one is prescribing Thyrolar."

If I have thyroid cancer, I have the right to expect that my doctor will provide the best possible treatment for that cancer, and if he or she is not experienced in thyroid cancer cases, a quick referral to a doctor or facility that does have that expertise.

I have the right to be treated as a person, an individual, someone who deserves to feel well . . .

~ Mary Shomon