You Are the Champion

If you want better health care, become a better patient.

By Hadara Graubart, published on September 01, 2007 - last reviewed on February 29, 2008

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Snap Judgments. "Physicians are thinking with a lot of data under tremendous pressure," Groopman says. This may cause them to grab on to the first symptom you offer. If you think your doc's ignoring an important piece of information, place more emphasis on it.
Too much self-disclosure. A study shows that 34 percent of doctors discuss themselves with new patients in a way that has no positive effects on treatment. You get an average of 15 minutes during an office visit. It should be about you.
Excess empathy. Sometimes doctors become so close to their patients, Groopman says, that they subconsciously refrain from putting them through uncomfortable tests and end up misdiagnosing them.
Lack of eye contact. There are medical professionals Charon calls "flagrant inattenders, who spend their whole time with their back to you writing on a computer." Get their attention. Snap, snap! I'm over here!
Stagnation. If your problem isn't improving, the physician should consider starting over, Groopman says. "If he doesn't probe more deeply but stays stuck with the initial assumption, that's a red flag." Press for another analysis.