PARTICIPATORY MEDICINE

 16-12-2024

On my experiences as a Patient Advocate, I have come across a few patients with positive and negative aspects. Every patient has their own limitations. Some are very transparent and clear in expressing their health issues and some have privacy issues. It depends on person to person.

The Good 

In a developing country like India we are progressing well in all fields, especially in this medical field we are able to solve or find remedies to many medical health issues of patients, online for almost all the health problems with minimal fare.

The good aspect is the patients as well are acquiring medical knowledge by discussing their problems with the health professionals directly. In the case of an 80 yr old male patient, at first he was very reserved and could not express his issues openly. But when as a patient advocate spoke to him with empathy, he was relaxed and could express his health issues and also cleared his doubts about medications and monitoring of his diabetes and also Blood pressure. Of course I was just a mediator. Everything was advised by the senior doctor.

The Bad

Some patients are very rigid and want only remedies with very little information of their health issues. A 62yr old male patient who had weakness, could not express his problems openly.  There are 101 reasons for a normal headache or stomachache, so it is very important for the patients to be clear in expressing their health issues.

I also had to communicate with a 60yr old female patient, who was diabetic and some other problems which she was not willing to express but wanted treatment. Inspite of making a comfortable conversation she did not feel free to talk.

There are always advantages and disadvantages in all concepts, choices or objects. This duality is often a fundamental aspect of decision-making and critical thinking.

Simple and Minute experience as a Patient Advocate.