When you visit the doctor, you expect to get compassionate and truthful assistance for your medical needs. But for many people of color, there is a strong distrust of mainstream healthcare systems. During antebellum times and even during the Jim Crow era, many blacks were treated as medical experiments and their bodies were dissected after their deaths. During the Reconstruction era, many white doctors and scientists portrayed blacks as having mental health issues and who are violent. Then there is the Tuskegee experiment that occurred in the 1940s. Hundreds of young black men were given syphillis without their permission, and they never received the treatment they deserved.
Fast forward to the 21st century, people of color still do not feel valued or respected. Some black female patients feel that doctors often dismiss their symptoms and health concerns and this leads to the worsening of conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. When doctors dismiss black patients’ concerns frequently, these patients don’t receive the medical attention they deserve. There is also the “strong black narrative” that exists within the black community. Black women are supposed to be strong matriarchal figures who rarely experience weaknesses and emotional pain. It is this narrative that hurts their health overall.
This is why it’s crucial for people of color to advocate for themselves when they meet with their doctors. When you do this, you’re ensuring that you receive the right care for your needs. Here is how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.
Keep Detailed and Accurate Records
One thing you should do is keep detailed and accurate records of your diagnoses, medications, appointment dates, treatments, and any test results you received from your doctor. This helps you stay organized and it gives you a complete picture of your health overall. You can also access and print out this information online.
Don’t Shy Away From The Hard Questions
If you want to know how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office, you’ll need to ask the hard questions to get clarity about your illness and treatment options. Some questions you should ask are:
- What are the best treatment options for (illness)?
- Are there any tests that can determine the cause of (illness)?
- What are the side effects and benefits of this medication?
- What are my risk factors for developing certain illnesses?
- How can I manage my condition with lifestyle changes?
- Could you explain my diagnosis in simpler terms?
- Are there any alternative treatments I should consider?
Do Your Own Research
Maybe your doctor gives you vague answers or he dismisses your symptoms altogether. Or maybe your doctor is recommending certain procedures or medications that won’t work for you. You can do your own research to figure out which treatment plan or tests are going to assist you with improving your health. Your doctor may recommend an evaluation for autism but after doing your own research, you realize that you’ll need an ADHD evaluation instead.
You Have The Right To Disagree
You don’t have to agree with your doctor’s recommendations or conclusions about your symptoms. If necessary, politely tell your doctor that while you appreciate his opinions, you will seek out a second opinion. It is possible for your doctor to be wrong and a different doctor may offer better solutions.
Bring A Friend or Relative
It also helps to bring a friend or relative with you to medical appointments for extra support. Your friend can ask your doctor questions about your condition, medications, and treatments that you never thought to ask. This gives you a better understanding of what is happening in your body and how you can improve your health long term.
Look For A Culturally Competent Physician
One complaint that some patients of color have is that many Caucasian doctors don’t understand the cultural context of certain illnesses they struggle with and the best ways to discuss these factors with them in a compassionate and respectful manner. If this is a concern for you, seek out a doctor who understands your culture and how it affects your health. For example, if you have breast cancer and you’re an African-American woman, look for a black female doctor who can educate you on your illness and discuss the role that your ethnicity plays in managing and treating your condition.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Learning how to advocate for yourself also involves preventative care. Make necessary lifestyle changes so that you won’t depend too heavily on your primary care doctor or specialist to tend to your medical needs. Eat healthier foods and practice portion control. Get in adequate physical activity and reduce stress by setting stronger boundaries, getting counseling, and talking to friends and relatives.
Get A New Physician
Sometimes, you and your doctor will never agree on important issues that affect your health. Maybe your doctor doesn’t see the need to pursue an official diagnosis even after you presented evidence that proves you may need it to live a better life. Or it could be that your doctor has a cultural bias that prevents him from giving you the care you need. In these cases, it’s better to choose a new physician.
Understand Your Rights As a Patient
If you need to find out how to advocate for yourself as a patient, then you should know what your rights are as a patient. For example, you have the right to keep your medical information private. You also have the right to refuse certain procedures and medications if you feel that they’re detrimental to your health.
Your health is too important to leave solely in the hands of healthcare professionals. By advocating for yourself, you ensure that you’re getting the best care possible to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
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