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Back in the old days, the doctor talked and patients listened.
Increasingly, though, the conversation in medical offices goes
both ways. Patients are becoming more assertive about healthcare,
and come to the doctor's office armed with ideas, information,
and preferences about their care.
The amount of autonomy that should given to patients is a matter
of much debate in the medical community. Some patients feel empowered
by the ability to do research and arrive at a decision about treatment
-- but others would prefer to say "You're the doctor - you
know best."
With medical information easy to come by on the Internet, and
with plenty of pharmaceutical companies running advertisements
telling potential patients to "Ask your doctor about "
medications, the doctor-patient relationship is changing. Is that
a good thing? A bad thing? And how are doctors reacting to the
change in the balance of power? Call in with your questions and
comments - 1-800-989-8255.
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WWII poster - National Archive image
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