Seven Ways to Share in Medical Decisions

Let your doctor know what you want. Tell your doctor that you want to share in making the decision about what to do for your health problem.
Do your own research. Sometimes you need to learn things on your own before you can fully understand what your doctor is saying. See the Resources that start on page 418 for books and other sources of information about health problems.
Ask about alternatives. Learn enough to understand the options your doctor thinks are feasible.
Consider watchful waiting. Ask doctors if it would be risky or costly to wait a while (day, week, month) before treatment to see if symptoms improve on their own.
State your preferences. Tell your doctor if you prefer one option over another based on your personal desires and values.
Compare expectations. Tell your doctor what you are expecting from the treatment and ask if that is realistic. If appropriate, discuss side effects, pain, recovery time, long-term limitations, etc.
Accept responsibility. When you make shared decisions with your doctor, both of you must accept the responsibility for the outcomes.