What are the Key Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Your Medical Procedure?

What are the Key Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Your Medical Procedure?

This is a very important question. There are a lot of important topics for patients to discuss with their physicians before they go in for medical procedures. It’s important for patients to feel empowered in the patient-doctor relationship. Many patients are uncomfortable asking questions or feel they are a burden if they ask too many questions or take too much time during office visits. Here are to the key questions to discuss with your doctor.

1. Why is it important for me to have this procedure done? What will be the benefit to me from this procedure?
   It is important for the patient to have a clear understanding of the reason a procedure is being performed. It should be clearly stated whether the procedure is being performed to diagnose an underlying condition, or if there is a therapeutic benefit. As an example, patients undergoing cardiac catheterization will receive diagnostic information about their degree of coronary artery disease but also there may be an opportunity to perform a therapeutic procedure (angioplasty and stenting) to treat any severe blockages. This can be associated with a significant relief in symptoms such as angina or chest pain. If the procedure is relatively new or experimental, the patient should be notified that the associated risks and benefits may not be well defined.
   
   
2. Who will be performing the procedure?
   For many procedures, there will be one or more assistants in the room. It’s important to clarify whether the doctor themselves will be doing all of the hands-on work or whether it will be a medical resident, fellow, or even student for that matter. The patient deserves to know if the person performing their procedure is a physician-in-training or a seasoned professional. It is also appropriate to research the background and training of the physician. For example, in cardiovascular medicine most well-trained interventional cardiologists have completed a rigorous fellowship program followed by board certification.
   
   
3. What are the potential complications from the procedure?
   It’s very important for there to be an open dialogue about what types of complications can occur. Medical providers are expected to be open with the patient about potential serious complications. The risk of major adverse events may be 1/100, however the consequences can be devastating for the patient who experiences the complication.  The patient should be told in plain language what these potential complications are. Years ago a family member underwent brain surgery and in talking with us, the surgeon stated the risk of any major complication was negligible. I called the surgeon myself and asked about serious complications. He said he had done thousands of cases with no significant complications. We were all devastated when my family member went on to develop a disabling stroke after the surgery.
   
   
4. What will be my recovery after the surgery?
   Is important for the patient to have a frank discussion with the doctor about what they should expect after the surgery. In some situations, surgery may mean being out of work for several weeks. It may mean not being able to physically provide care for one’s children or other family members. It could also mean not driving or participating in certain sports or other physical activities. These restrictions should be discussed openly. It’s also important to make sure the patient is aware of the amount of time that it will take for them to fully recover from the surgery. Any rehabilitation programs or physical therapy that will be needed should also be discussed. 
   

 In summary, having a medical procedure performed can be very scary. Asking a few basic questions can help alleviate some of the anxiety and stress that goes along with needing a medical procedure. Informed consent is critical prior to any medical procedure, therefore your doctor should be happy to provide answers to your questions. Consider having a family member present as well to help ensure that all important questions have been answered and that there is a good understand of the risks and benefits prior to moving forward.