2. Forget the internet: I've worked with a number of doctors in consulting, and many--not just House MD--say the same thing: that the Internet is the greatest source of misinformation, and the biggest impediment to healthcare staff being able to do their job.
3. If you have checked the Internet, keep your mouth shut about it: Medical websites are no less than countless shelves of medical texts and journals that require medical specialists to fully navigate and utilize. The human body is a complex organism--what may seem obvious to you may certainly be much more complicated. The last thing a medical specialist wants to hear is that you've been poking around medical sites and blindly self-diagnosing.
4. Don't lie: Doctors are using every bit of information possible to formulate a diagnosis; if you lie about something, you can't expect the diagnosis to be accurate. House MD's axiom was "Everybody lies," which was key to him being able to solve 90% of the cases. Even if it's embarrassing, or litigating, if you want to get better, you've got to be honest.
5. If you're a parent, don't get in the way: This goes back to #1: The doctor is the specialist, and you're not. Think Tiger Woods sinks 30ft putts 90% of the time by working at an accounting job all week? While you're sitting behind your desk, Tiger's out there putting in the hours to master his craft. That's why he hires an accountant. Get the point? By being a helicopter parent, you're impeding the healthcare specialist from doing his/her job.
6. Don't hit on the staff: Let's face it, it's awkward. It happened to House MD sometimes and it was never good (remember the trouble the 3-weeks to 18 girl caused him?). Hitting on your doctor/nurse sets up an immediate conflict of interest that puts him/her in a very difficult position that can compromise your care.
7. Keep hope alive: If there's a take-away from House MD it's that the light at the end of the tunnel may be an actual opening, even if it looks like freight train. If you have faith use it--if you don't, find it.
8. If you're seeing a hot-shot doc, expect brilliance with variable narcissism: They're not the top of their profession for nothing, and there are often other traits that are both strengths and weaknesses. Expect abrasiveness at times and even passive aggression; but don't worry--their brilliance will more often than not lead them to the solution.
9. Everyone's flawed: We're all human--even doctors. Expect mistakes, oversights, and time-lags. Try to stay calm and trust the process. If you can accept that everyone's human, then you'll be able to get through the process without losing your mind in the meantime.
10. If you're given a period of time to live, get a second opinion: In conversations I've had with doctors specializing in intensive care, it is very difficult to know when a patient will die; and the really good ones will avoid making claims in that regard altogether. If you have been given a period of time to live, get a second or third opinion before you go out and make drastic changes like cashing in your stocks or RRSPs.
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