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Are You an Empowered Patient...or a Pain in the Neck?

By , About.com Guide

Updated July 03, 2007

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Are You Basing Your Decisions on What You've "Heard?"
Are You an Empowered Patient...or a Pain in the Neck?
Are you telling your doctor that you want to try this medication, or that treatment, because of something you read at an online forum, or on a listserv, or something you heard from your Aunt Gladys, cousin Tom, or next-door neighbor?

This is an almost guaranteed to make your doctor suspicious of what you're suggesting, and resistant to the ideas.

A BETTER APPROACH? Do some homework before you pass on "hearsay." Your doctor will put more stock in what your relative, coworker or cyber-pal has to say if you can find something more specific -- a drug information sheet, research abstract, article by a reputable practitioner, advocate or information source -- to back up what you're saying.

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