Questions worth keeping
Take questions that leave room for an honest answer
Choose the prompts that fit the decision in front of you.
Begin with the concern
- What might explain the problem I described?
- Why consider this treatment for me?
- What are the other options, including waiting?
- What evidence fits my concern, and what does it leave uncertain?
You can read from your notes. If a word gets in the way, ask for a shorter explanation. The useful answer is the one you can repeat afterward.
Ask about the people and product
- Who assesses me and who decides on a prescription?
- What work does the physician do in my case?
- What is the medicine’s full name and where does it come from?
- Who can answer questions after it arrives?
Ask about the plan over time
- How will we tell whether the plan is helping?
- What problems would change the plan, and who would I contact?
- When is the next review and what happens at it?
- What is the whole recurring bill and how can I leave the plan?
Leave a gap below each question. Write the answer as you understand it, then mark anything you need explained again.
Keep only the questions you need next
- Move your chosen questions to the notebook or a piece of paper.
- Begin with the concern that matters most to you.
- Ask for time to read any written plan before deciding.