What To Ask Your Doctor

What should I ask my doctor?

It can be hard to take in medical information, especially if you’re worried or stressed during your appointment.

When you see a doctor, it’s really important that you give them all the information they need to treat you properly. Tell them everything you can think of about your symptoms, your lifestyle and any family history of liver disease.

Remember, your medical team is not there to judge you on your decisions or behaviours. Their job is to decide the best treatment for you to give you the highest chance of success. Keeping back important information from your medical team may affect your care.

For example, your medical team would not report you to the police if you tell them that you are currently using drugs. Instead, they would be able to use this information to decide the best course of treatment.

It’s a good idea to go to your appointments with someone else so that they can support you and help you remember what your doctor says.

Before you go

Make a list of this information:

• How long have you had each of your symptoms? When did your first notice them?
• How do you feel over a 24-hour period? Are there certain times of day when your symptoms are worse, such as after food or at night?
• What treatments and medicines have you had before?
• What medicines are you taking now? List all of them, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, supplements and others.
• Do you have any other conditions?
• Do any of your family members have medical conditions?

During the appointment

• What is this test for?
• When will I get the results of this test?
• What is this treatment for?
• Is there another treatment that would be better for me?
• Do I need to eat differently?
• Do I need to make any other changes to my lifestyle?
• Should I stop taking or change any of my other medications?
• Does my liver condition affect any of my other conditions?
• Where can I get more information?

Question builder

This question builder is an online tool that can help you prepare for your medical appointment by creating a list of questions to ask your doctor. You can print or email the list to take with you. It can help you to remember everything you wanted to ask and get the most out of your time with the doctor.

Question Builder was developed by Health Direct and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

You can access it here: Question Builder

Asking for a second opinion

You do not have to stick with one doctor or specialist. If you are not happy with one of your health professionals, you are entitled to ask for a second opinion.

Doctors don’t mind if you get a second opinion. They are used to it. But if you’re nervous about asking for a second opinion, go back to see your GP and ask for a different referral.

Patient rights

Patients in Australia have certain rights that ensure they receive safe and high quality care.

Whether you’re being treated in hospital, general practice or the community, if you’re a public or private patient, you have the right to:

• access to healthcare services
• safety
• respect
• partnership and honest communication
• information, including if something goes wrong
• privacy
• ability to give feedback.

If you feel you haven’t received appropriate healthcare, it is your right to make a complaint. You can find out more about your rights as a patient and how to make a healthcare complaint on the Health Direct website.