Medical Decisions

Every patient has the right to make informed decisions regarding their healthcare. It is the physicians’ job to inform the patient of all possible options and risks regarding the patients care but it is ultimately the patients’ decision.

I know of a couple that was going through a very tough pregnancy. After days and days of testing the physician informed the couple that there was a good chance that their baby would be born with severe defects. He also suggested to the couple that they terminate the pregnancy. The couple researched the condition and ultimately decided to carry the pregnancy to term. When the baby was born he had only mild health conditions and he is now a healthy, happy two year old.

Physicians have many years of schooling and experience that they draw off of to make their decisions or diagnoses. Their opinions and thoughts are highly regarded. However it is ultimately you and me, the patients that have the final say in our medical treatment. The doctors can give us the ratios, consequences and options but we are the ones that know or at least think we know what