When it comes to our health, where can we find the one PERSON to turn to for an HONEST accurate answer? This is a flawed question because it presupposes one source is capable of providing an accurate HONEST answer all the time. It also excludes various mitigating factors that interfere with unbiased objective information used to provide an answer.
Most people would probably agree their medical doctor or chiropractic doctor or naturopathic doctor or ayurvedic doctor or eastern medicine doctor, etc… would be a good reliable source to find the HONEST TRUTH. Are doctors so pure in thought and action that TRUTH and HONESTY supersedes their HUMAN NEEDS and responsibilities to pay bills? Do the well paid managing consultants teach doctors TRUTH and HONESTY, or do they focus on models and protocols that generate revenue? Point being, are the SOLUTIONS offered by doctors HONEST recommendations in the best interest of the patient’s health, or solutions the industry has MANDATED the doctor recommend to maintain the INDUSTRY’S BEST HEALTH?
If only our anatomy would reveal the TRUTH!
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How are we as patients to know whether recommendations are based on HONESTY or PROTOCOL?
It requires HOMEWORK. It requires caring enough about your health to get MULTIPLE ANSWERS from MULTIPLE SOURCES and determining for YOURSELF which SOLUTION provides the best option. Sounds a little scary, doesn’t it. We have been trained to leave these decisions in the hands of the “EXPERTS.” The “experts,” however, ALL HAVE BIASES and want your business! We need to stop looking at doctors on the same benevolent plane we see Mother Teresa. We must begin recognizing they share the SAME LIMITATIONS as the rest of us. They are human, want to earn a living and want to enjoy the blessings of life.
According to the British American Journal, approximately 12 million AMERICAN adults are MISDIAGNOSED annually. Broken down in simpler numbers this translates to 1 in 20 individuals with nearly 50% of these cases potentially resulting in “serious harm.” That translates into a lot of mistakes.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THESE STATISTICS AND IMPROVE THE HONESTY IN TREATMENT SOLUTIONS?
We can achieve this by becoming an INTEGRAL part of the decision making process. We can coordinate the efforts of the experts we have confidence in and get MULTIPLE opinions regarding our diagnoses and treatment recommendations. This DOESN’T MEAN going to 2 different family doctors and comparing their findings. It means going to different TYPES OF DOCTORS that evaluate and treat health problems. Sometimes people will feel a medical approach using pharmaceuticals will be the best decision. Other times, a chiropractic physician will be chosen utilizing a different treatment plan achieving a similar or better result without the use of pharmaceutical drugs. Hypothetically, a naturopathic physician may reveal findings undiscovered by BOTH the medical physician and chiropractic physician adding more accurate information to a final diagnosis resulting in a better comprehensive treatment plan and outcome.
The beautiful thing about this approach is it places the PATIENT IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN HEALTH! The PATIENT gets to choose from the BEST TREATMENT PLANS provided by a variety of TRUSTED professionals offering HONEST SOLUTIONS that meet their personal needs.
Will some doctor’s egos object to this team effort approach? YES! Will some doctors threaten to release you from their care for not trusting their opinion or following their treatment recommendations? YES! Are you worried there aren’t enough good, caring, qualified and compassionate doctors willing and able to fill their place??? DON’T BE!
Talk to friends, go online and read reviews, interview doctors in person and create your own personal team to help you champion your own health. As a doctor, I would have WELCOMED this approach because I would have known my patient cared as much about their own health as I did. I would have also been more confident that my patient’s COMPREHENSIVE needs were being evaluated thoroughly and addressed appropriately. This becomes a win-win approach for both doctor AND PATIENT.
Would you rather evaluate the quality and value of your doctor by the size of the house he or she lives in or the car they car drive, or by the quality of health they are willing and able to help YOU achieve?
WOULD YOU SAY WE’VE SUCCEEDED IN SEARCHING AND FINDING HONESTY TODAY?
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All About Healthy Choices 
I used to be one of those people who accepted anything my doctor said as pure gospel. Nowadays, I ask questions of more than one ‘expert’ or amateur and compare. I’ve been happier since I’ve started this, believe me!!
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Better results are typically achieved when various options are made available. Our system usually favors a business model offering only 1 choice. This creates a false belief that alternative options are unavailable leading the patient to following a treatment protocol that commonly supports chronic disease management.
This business model has serious ethical and moral conflict that doctors must face.
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I also found that with one answer, it can be from a doctor who is not up-to-date. I am lucky at the moment to have a brilliant, young man as my primary doctor. (and I still check on from there.)
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A good doctor would encourage you to check up. It doesn’t question the validity or quality of a doctor; it provides a second set of eyes and a possible different perspective with potential alternative options.
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Good point.
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According to the British American Journal, approximately 12 million AMERICAN adults are MISDIAGNOSED annually. Broken down in simpler numbers this translates to 1 in 20 individuals with nearly 50% of these cases potentially resulting in “serious harm.” That translates into a lot of mistakes.
Those are staggering numbers, Jonathan. Thanks again for a thought provoking post and a strong cautionary note.
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The purpose is NOT to create fear, but rather to create awareness. It is intended to help motivate people to understand the STRENGTH and IMPACT they can have on the decisions made that affect the quality of their health.
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A very important, honest message, Jonathan. Can really tell you care. Thank you. 🙂
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Thank you Kelly. Empowering people creates greater patient knowledge and involvement leading to healthier outcomes. Who wouldn’t be in favor of this option?
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I agree! I am definitely an advocate for people being part of their own healthcare team… and thankfully, most of the docs I work with support this too. We encourage patient education in order to foster empowerment, but do find we have to supply credible resources or face the challenge of wading through large amounts of inaccurate health information that’s been consumed… it’s a daily battle to be honest, and requires time that sometimes isn’t available… so we do the best we can. 🙂
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You are so right. Short staff + high patient volume = TOO LITTLE TIME! Doing the best one can do is all that can be hoped for (and appreciated!)
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Thanks – I know you understand! 🙂
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How helpful would it be if every time a doctor told us something less than the truth their nose would grow like Pinocchio! I also have thought enough times that the doctor knows better but really what it comes down to is i know my body. Ive learned over the years to trust myself and stand up for myself when they try to convince me into medications even flu shots. i dont know what is in them and i cant take the chance they will make my condition worse. another very good post Doctor Jonathan! 🙂 They are only human and we as patients really need to keep that in mind.
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Over the years we have shifted our relationship with professionals from using them as sources of knowledge to making them responsible for our lives. Doctors, accountants, lawyers, etc… We would become a healthier society if we returned to paying these professionals for their knowledge and accepted personal responsibility for our actions.
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yes you are right. All of these professionals are doing a job. And no one can force you to take advise, you agree to it. Once you agree it becomes your choice and your choices are your own responsibility whether it works out the way you hoped or not. Id rather be responsible for my own self any day! Sometimes i think its easier for some people to put their lives in the hands of others. maybe they are afraid of being wrong.
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Some may believe it is easier to place one’s life in the hand of another, but the reality changes as one realizes “the other” can never provide the energy, compassion or concern for outcome anywhere near the individual experiencing the problem.
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i think sometimes if there had been some courses in grade school that i could have taken like they teach you english or health but all about loving yourself and taking good care of yourself my condition maybe not have gotten the chance to take hold of me the way it did. Or can you imagine kindergarten yoga and meditation?! practicing good health really should be something started at a very early age before so many bad habits have their way with a person. Im sure by now they do have yoga for toddlers ahhaa! adorable and smart i love that combination! 🙂
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Starting at a young age is a key to preventing the destructive patterns in life we develop. You are absolutely right.
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My twin brother has two young daughters 7 and 4 and to watch those girls pack their adorable liddle faces with fruit and only ask for water to drink honestly my heart could burst makes me so happie! He and I were raised in the late 60 early 70s when drinking punch and eating cookies for snack was the norm. these days give me a nice red delicious apple with a bit of vinegar on it and im good! 🙂 You and blogs like this are so needed out here! you help us all face our health and want to pay better attention to it!
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Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes people just need a little “nudge” to get the wheels rolling. 🙂
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Yes I think you are right! out here just getting the chance to read about others and what theyve tried or are going through sometimes its nice to know you are not alone 🙂
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I remember when my PCP enjoyed trying to figure out the weird things I came in with. Saw it as a challenge. Now he is in a hurry to get to the next patient. Hard to find doctors who actually take the time to listen, really listen to a patient’s needs and think about the treatment. I have been with mine for 29 years except for a brief break to another, who then retired and I went back. My chiropractor is a great listener and even in busy times will take the time to listen. However he wants me to stop all drugs and I am caught between two worlds on that one.
Great article Jonathan.
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Times in health care are certainly changing. Finding good quality professionals in all walks of life has become more challenging.
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My chiropractor takes the time to listen and gets backed up frequently, but that is just how he is. I may have to wait a bit, but I know he will listen to me if I need it. Not many doctors like that. Now my therapist and psych nurse are paid to listen. And they do so that is good. No complaints there.
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I really like this ! Just as ‘it takes a village’ it does take creating your own personal team to live a healthy, abundant life! Thanks for this 🙂
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Thank you for sharing your comment, Abigail. I’ve been enjoying reading your posts and the motivation they have inspired.
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We’re also lucky to live in a time where this advice is easier than ever to follow, because we can turn to the Internet to find those other opinions and doctors to go see, where in the past, you might not have even known this was an option if no one ever told you about it.
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Absolutely. It all comes down to determining self value and the belief you can (to a large extent) be the master of your own destiny.
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We really have to be our own best friend and use our own common sense! Great post!
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It starts with really CARING about ONESELF. Most people don’t take the time to think about this idea. They take their own lives for granted and ultimately, often, pay a great price.
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I was happy to read this Jonathan because sometimes I think I am annoying, I question everything and want to know why and how. I feel it is my responsibility!! Doctors are people and make mistakes too. This is my life and my body
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I believe your thinking is on target. If a doctor considers your questions “annoying,” he or she is free to excuse their services and refer you to someone else more interested in answering them.
Any time I thought I felt an elitist attitude coming on, I would go to a local golf course and attempt to walk across one of the ponds. I figured if I could cross the pond without getting wet, my attitude was justified. Needless to say, after getting soaked, I decided the smarter move was to change my attitude! 🙂
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hahaha I love it! Well I feel I ask reasonable questions but feel shy, I then realize this is my life, my health and my responsibility! Love your attitude
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That is an alarming number of misdiagnosed patients. I never imagined it would be so high.
I was one of those who believed and accepted everything my doctor’s told me. I know better know to ask questions and do some research.
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Many shared a similar past belief. The wise rise above their mistaken beliefs and follow new sources of better truths. I have great confidence in your wisdom and desire to participate in your health decisions. Gives you a greater sense of strength, I’ll bet.
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Yes it does. Thank you
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Love this post….we recently seen my husbands pulmonologist and his general practitioner, the lung MD was honest with us as he saw Peter, doing well, coughing is what it is and if you were to look at his test, he is almost at the normal level of breathing….but why doesn’t he feel like his lungs are normal and why does he cough all the time? we walked away wondering….the next appointment was that afternoon with his GP, and of course I made a blanket statement that Peter coughs and coughs and coughs…help us….he was very compassionate and said he was going to it it out there…holding nothing back…we walked away understanding that not only does he have COPD but he also has bronchiectasis, so he will always cough and it will never get better….our GP laid it all on the line…we already knew that he had the second disease but didn’t understand correctly…we walked away with our heads spinning and searching for help to make life as easy as possible for him….and him being one of the most stubborn men in the world will not make that an easy task..LOL but to get back to the post….isn’t it nice that the MD takes the time to really, really make it clear and then hug us on our way out….sometimes honesty is hard to grasp, but we would rather know than not…they always downplayed the bronchiectasis, I had read about it, but didn’t get the just of it until the GP put it in lamens terms…so on to dealing with life….we are positive and reading all we can on how to make to help keep his chronic cough at bay to the best we can..good article…thanks Jonathan….
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I am glad you were able to find a caring compassionate physician willing and able to take the time and explain the condition and to explain in terms you could clearly understand. I’m glad to see the two of you remaining positive. Whether people are healthy or dealing with various conditions, there are always two choices in life. (1) Complain and pass the time depriving oneself joy and happiness and the opportunities available each and every day. (2) Recognize the precious limited time ALL OF US SHARE on this planet and maximize our experiences with eachother bringing joy and happiness to our lives. We don’t need to focus on what we can’t do; we need to focus on AND APPRECIATE what we can do. This is called “LIVING LIFE!”
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How true….as we say its all about the quality not quantity of life….we are reaming positive and handling each day at a time with smiles….no other way…..thanks Jonathan….
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Agree completely!
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honesty is the way of living what you do with others what you say what you think you react at all everything is depends on you thanks n nyc post
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