How to make right decision

<p>Sometimes we or someone we love is faced with a medical decision that is not simple: having to consider a treatment plan that has possible risks and long-term effects. This decision may involve a serious disease like cancer, or it may be an urgent need for surgery. It could be as deceptively simple as an office procedure or it might be a clinical trial, offering you free care in exchange for your participation in a research study.</p><p>In any one of these situations it is important to understand enough about your options to make an informed choice, usually during a discussion doctors call "Obtaining Informed Consent." These risky situations are inherently stressful, and making decisions under stress is not easy. How do you know what questions to ask, what risks to consider, or even if you have been informed adequately enough to make the right choice?</p><p>The ethical and legal basis for informed consent assumes that every patient has the right to direct what happens to their body and to be involved in their own health care. While a treatment decision may be self-evident to your physician, it is the prerogative of the patient to choose their own course of action. This choice should be based on a reliable and complete explanation provided by your health care provider. (If you as the patient are not capable of making an informed decision, then a designated surrogate - such as the person named in your advance health care directive - should assist.)</p><p>This doctor-patient dialogue should include a clear explanation of the procedure being considered, a discussion of reasonable alternatives to the proposed intervention, and a consideration of the relative risks, benefits and uncertainties that could be expected with each alternative. The goal for both patient and physician is a signed agreement to accept and collaborate on a choice of treatment plans.</p><p>It is the responsibility of your doctors to obtain your "informed consent." Using lay terminology, your physician should be able to clearly answer your questions until you understand the options.</p><p>Some patients want very little information; too many unnecessary facts are frightening. Others want to know every detail, every option and every possible outcome. You probably know your own preferences and can tailor your questions for your particular needs.</p><p>You should have someone else with you during this meeting, to help you clarify confusing points or to remember what was said. Take notes, or have your companion do so; write down names of medications being discussed or even the medical diagnosis you have been given. The better you understand the treatment plan, the better you can work with it and allow it to help you heal.</p><p>In addition to the risks and benefits of a treatment plan, it is important to discuss the expectations for healing after a procedure. Will you need to stay in the hospital? Will you have pain? How long will your activities be limited and what medications will you be given? When will you be able to return to work? Will you require help to manage daily activities for a while? Unrealistic expectations can be a real setup for shock and fear after a procedure that turned out to be more complicated than you anticipated.</p><p>We all feel vulnerable when we find ourselves in need of serious medical care. Your doctors and nurses are there to help you, so work with them to gain a clear understanding of your situation.</p><p>Involving yourself in choosing a treatment plan and taking an active part in the process of informed consent can empower you when you are scared, and can allow you to fully participate in the best plan for recovering your strength and well-being.</p><h3>INFORMED CONSENT</h3> <p>Read more about informed consent: www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/12008-1.asp www.facs.org/public_info/operation/consent.html</p>