Is It Crucial to Be Honest with Your Doctor While Seeking Treatment?
Although everyone is guilty of telling some white lies from time to time, it is crucial to know when to draw a line and resist the urge to lie. One of the times you should consider being honest is when you visit a doctor. Lying to your doctor about how you feel or the possible cause of your condition causes more harm than good. For instance, it'll be challenging to accurately diagnose your condition or treat you if they don't know your actual story. This post will share key details about why patients lie and reasons why you should stop or avoid lying to your doctor.
Why do patients lie?
Your doctor will ask several questions about how you feel, when the problems started, what caused it, and so on. If you are coming for a follow-up visit, they will ask if you followed the instructions they gave and feel better.
Unfortunately, most patients usually choose to lie because they don't want to be judged or criticised about their behaviour. Another group of patients lies because they do not want to know how bad the condition is, mainly because of their bad habits or health choices. Others simply do not want the information to be on their medical records, they want the doctor to like them, or they don't want to take too much time in the doctor's office. The gender of the doctor also plays a significant role in this — male patients are more likely to be honest to a male doctor than a female doctor, and vice versa.
Why should you avoid lying to your doctor?
The information you offer will help the doctor to make more appropriate medical decisions. This way, you will get a better health outcome and get tips on avoiding the health problem. However, when you choose to withhold information about your health, your doctor will find it challenging to offer a proper diagnosis and treatment.
So, it's advisable to be honest with your doctor, regardless of your age or gender. After all, doctors are trained in engaging a patient, so it'll not be challenging to open up to them. Remember, the doctor is there to help you feel better without judging you. If you do not understand the questions, you shouldn't hesitate to ask for clarification so you can provide the most appropriate answers. Also, take the corrections positively since they are meant to help you boost your health.
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