Your Responsibility as a Patient

As a patient, you have to shoulder a wide variety of responsibilities, some of which are as follows:

1. You should provide your doctor with accurate and complete information about your medical history, past illnesses, allergies, hospitalizations and medications.
2. You should report changes in your condition (however minor they may seem to you) to your doctor - don't keep him in the dark!
3. If you do not understand what your doctor says or wants you to do, you should let him know without any hesitation!
4. You should strictly follow your doctor's treatment plan.
5. You should keep your appointments on schedule, and if you cannot do so for any reason, let your doctor know well in advance.
6. You should pay your medical bills promptly!
7. You should follow hospital rules and regulations without fail.
8. You should have realistic expectations of what the doctor can do for you. Everyone would like to get well completely, but one should always bear in mind that the doctor is not a miracle worker.
9. You should help your doctor to help you! If you cannot stick to a particular treatment plan, let your doctor know, so that he can formulate an alternative plan.
10. You should maintain good health habits.
11. You should participate actively in your medical care. Patients who are highly motivated get better faster: in other words, help your body to heal it!
12. You should ask questions to clarify any doubts or dispel any misconceptions in your mind. A doctor or nurse may not know when you're confused, uncertain or just want more information. Therefore, do not refrain from asking questions.
13. You should respect the doctors and the nurses. The medical staff deserves your respect and courtesy: treat them the way you would like to be treated by them!
14. You should not ask for false medical certificates or padded medical bills (in order to get additional reimbursement).