An article by Mary Brophy Marcus in USA Today discusses the role of the patient today in acting as his or her own advocate when it comes to testing, costs, and health care decisions.
While the article is not specific to prostate cancer, it does address the importance (and the right) of a patient to take a proactive stance on what is going to happen to him or her with respect to clinical tests, the value and the costs associated with those tests, and being sure that (s)he understands what it is that (s)he is being told by the professional medical personnel.
As the article makes clear, there is a fine line between ensuring that you get what you believe you need and being a real jerk. Sometimes it is a good idea to listen carefully to the doctor before pulling out the tape recorder and saying that you are going to record the entire discussion. And if you do want to record the discussion, it doesn’t hurt to ask first as opposed to insisting.
At the other end of the scale, it is also a good idea to make sure you understand exactly why someone wants to give you an MRI or a PET scan before you find yourself on the other end of a co-pay for $200 or more!
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