Patient Perspective

Today's Writing prompt: In your own words, explain why or why not the perspective of the patient is the most important determinant as to whether an adverse event has occurred


Ever since I was little I have had an issue with authority. Most people wouldn't guess that- I have never been grounded or punished by my parents, gotten detention at school; actually I had never even been tardy to class until I went away to college and learned the joys of the snooze button.  My issue with authority wasn't an unruly teenager flipping the bird at her parents behind their backs- it was a mischievous little girl quietly flouting authority in small unnoticeable ways yet significant (at least to her).   I don't have an issue with authority itself or the idea of obedience, I simply take issue with the idea of following an order that may not be the best thing for me.  I have always been of the opinion that I know  me  best.  Notice I did not say I know what's best for me, but that I know myself better than anyone else. Some may say that's a semantics argument. I disagree- I think there is an important difference between the two.

This is something I think people lose sight of, and especially in healthcare. Patients' complaints about their doctors not listening to them or taking them seriously are a dime a dozen, and are often ignored because of the idea that doctors clearly know more about medicine than the people paying them do.  I wouldn't argue that fact- surely the people who went to medical school for eight or so years are more knowledgeable about medicine than the person wearing the hospital gown; yet could the patients have a point?   The person wearing the hospital gown has had a pretty close relationship with themselves for years- maybe decades; the doctor probably just met them five minutes ago.   There is a legitimate argument to be had that sometimes doctors lose sight of this fact when they are working with patients and making diagnoses. 

When it comes to an adverse health event- which is more important, the patient's perspective, or the doctors?  There can be arguments made for both sides; the patient is the one experiencing the effects and having to tolerate the symptoms, yet the doctor is the one knowledgeable in all of the effects as well as likely why the event occurred, and if  it might happen again or trigger another adverse health event. 

Let's say for example that a patient experiences an adverse health event. The doctor is concerned about this event that has occurred and recommends to the patient that he seek such and such a treatment in order to prevent this from occurring again. However, let's say in this situation that the patient has been experiencing these ongoing symptoms for some time, but is not bothered by them or the fact that they happen, and does not want to follow the treatment plan the doctor has provided. Who is right?   On the one hand, the patient knows their own body better than the doctor does- and is the one experiencing everything firsthand; however, the doctor is the one with the training and may know that if the patient does not seek treatment conditions may worsen and danger may be present.

I think when it comes to adverse health events, neither the patient perspective or the doctor perspective is the most important in deciding whether an event has occurred.  Patient perspective is absolutely important, and should not be disregarded.  Who hasn't suffered the unpleasant experience of being questioned endlessly about how you are feeling, when you continuously repeat that you are feeling fine?  Nobody knows you better than you do after all. However, someone with eight years of medical training can undoubtedly identify a medical issue better than someone without years of medical training. Is it not possible for someone to be suffering an affliction of some sort yet present no symptoms currently? As healthcare professionals we know all too well that someone can feel fine one minute and be barely alive the next.  For this reason, I would have to say the patient perspective is not the most important determinant when decided whether an adverse health event has occurred- because both perspectives are important. There is no "most important"  perspective or person, rather both patient and provider should work together.