Advice From an Insider: Prevent Medical Mistakes

7 need-to-know tips.

Trust Your Instincts

I'm a surgeon. So when I needed surgery on my right hand, the one I operate with, I chose one of the best hand surgeons in the world. The procedure went well, and I went home with a large cast on my arm and lots of narcotics. But the pain was excruciating. The next day I called the surgeon. "You're fine," he assured me. "Return in six weeks." I thought I was being hysterical. Would my doctor dislike me if I pushed too hard?

But I knew I wasn't fine. So after three more days of politely calling and being ignored, I demanded to be seen. By this time, my fingers had swollen up like sausages. My surgeon wasn't available, so the doctor on call saw me. When he examined my arm, his face turned red with anger. The cast was much too tight. He literally ripped it off and discovered that the swelling had forced the incision to open. It had to be restitched and another cast put in place. Months later, I needed two plastic surgeries to improve the unsightly scar, and each time, my arm was in a cast for six weeks. I couldn't operate, my kids were young, and it was a very difficult time. If my surgeon had seen me on day 1, these complications would have been avoided.

My experience made me wonder: If even I, a surgeon, was too intimidated to confront my doctor when my gut told me something was wrong, how much more difficult must it be for the average patient? We all need to take charge of our own health. That's especially true when it comes to the invisible doctors responsible for the tests and images that shape our diagnosis and treatment. My advice:

Trust your instincts. If you have questions about a lab result, diagnosis or treatment, speak up. And be persistent. After you have a lab test or diagnostic image, call your doctor to make sure he received the results. Don't worry about hurting your doctor's feelings. This is about you.

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“ Use your knuckle to rub your eyes. It's less likely to be contaminated with viruses than your fingertip. ”

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