Why are patients scared to question their doctor ?

While talking to one of my patients , I wanted more information
about her earlier IVF cycle.”  Did you
ask your Doctor why he selected that particular dose of HMG injection for your super
ovulation? “She seemed puzzled . “ How can I question my doctor ? Isn’t that
rude ? Won’t he get offended if I ask him questions ? I don’t want to upset him
by challenging his authority ! And in any case, what do I understand about any
of these medical terms. Even if he did answer my question , most of it would go
over my head so there would be very little point in cross-examining him . And
he’s the expert, so I am sure he must know what he‘s doing !”

I think this is a hangover from the good old days when
the family doctor knew everything there was to know about the family , and could
be trusted to make the right decisions for the patient. In that age , all the
medical knowledge was locked up in medical books and journals , which only doctors
had access to. There was little patients could do if they wanted to do their
own  research .  

When doctors were seen as being a trusted friend , philosopher
and guide , it made a lot of sense for a patient to blindly accept what their
doctor told them. Patients felt no need to ask their doctor any questions.
However, we cannot continue with this archaic attitude , because times have
changed. For one, most of us don't even have our own family physician. We are forced
to go to a particular specialist, ...

Source: The Patient's Doctor - August 8, 2013 Category: Obstetricians and Gynecologists Source Type: blogs