While it’s easy to blame doctors for every medical disaster, it’s important to understand that, as a patient, the first responsibility for your health lies with you. To get the most out of your visit to the doctor, you need to play a well-informed and proactive role and understand and protect your rights. Here are some pointers:

Choose your doctor with care: Ask family and friends for references rather than picking one at random. Once you have a name ask around to confirm their level of expertise, competence and qualifications. When you visit their office check for certificates from workshops attended — this tells you that they keep abreast of the latest treatment methods and medical technologies.

Communication, trust and respect: These are vital for a good patient-doctor relationship; for this it is important to find a doctor you feel comfortable with. If you don’t have confidence in your doctor, or you find their manner abrasive, you might be better off looking for another.

Start with a GP: A General Practitioner, preferably your family doctor or someone familiar with your medical history, is the best person to consult as they have a bird’s eye view. Let them refer you to a specialist if you need one.

Get informed: The more you know about your condition the better you can discuss the diagnosis, severity, complications, treatment options, prognosis, etc. The doctor may not have time to discuss things like lifestyle changes, diet plans, exercise regimens, etc., that can help improve your health so do read up as much as you can. Keep in mind, however, that not everything your read on the net is true, so always double check the facts with your doctor.

Know your history: If your parents have diabetes, if your aunt died of breast cancer, if your husband’s family has a heart problem — you need to tell your doctor. It will help if you maintain detailed written records; these should include:

• Copies of all medical records, prescriptions, test reports, scans, X-rays, etc.

• List of drugs and supplements you take (make sure to include everything as certain drugs react unfavourably with others)

• List of any allergies.

Prepare: Write down what you want to discuss with your doctor before your appointment; list down specific queries, symptoms, complaints — anything that needs to be addressed. Make your questions brief, specific and to the point to not waste the doctor’s time. Also note down everything your doctor tells you. That way you can review your notes later to refresh your memory about all aspects of your medical health.

Bring support: like a spouse, sibling, mature child or good friend — someone to hold your hand and to ask all the questions you forgot (or were afraid) to ask.

Be honest: If you go to your doctor with a racking cough, this is not the time to lie about your smoking habit. Honest answers allow correct diagnosis. Also, be honest about how closely you have (or have not) adhered to the treatment regimen — the doctor should know the medicine didn’t work because you forgot to take it.

Follow through: Don’t abandon treatment once you start feeling better. You may be only partially cured and might suffer complications later on if you stop following prescription dos and don’ts.

Be realistic: Don’t expect definitive diagnosis for every symptom.Some symptoms are vague and non-specific so doctors make a list of potential diagnosis and recommend tests to rule them out. Do not expect to feel better immediately, a lot of medications take time to take effect. However, do inform your doctor of any adverse side-effect immediately.

Be proactive: Keep tabs on when you are due for your annual or bi-annual tests as part of preventive health care; these include cholesterol, blood count, ECG, diabetes, mammograms, colonoscopy, pap smears, dental check-ups, etc., depending on your age and family history.

Be patient: Understand that waiting, sometimes for hours, is part of the medical process; come prepared with your own reading or entertainment material or catch up with friends and family on your smart phone.

Know your rights. As a patient you may need to follow your doctor’s orders but that doesn’t mean you have no rights. You have the right to confidentiality, honest information regarding prognosis, specific information about your condition and how it can be controlled; information about alternative courses of treatment, the benefits and potential side effects of prescribed medication, etc. You have the right to refuse medication and treatment and leave the hospital against medical advice (you will have to sign a waiver form). You have the right to ask questions and to take an active interest in your treatment; you have the right to complain and disagree.

You have the right to ask for a second opinion and even ‘fire’ your doctor if you feel you are not being given the best possible care. Most important of all, you have the right to be treated with dignity, empathy and respect in all matters related to your health.