Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance
There's lots of medical misinformation on the web. Even WebMD is not recommended. Besides, by advocate, I mean more of a when-you-are-in-the-ER. Advance planning is fine, but when you're under fire, who's to know how to advocate or even what to look out for.
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You make several very good points. I wish I had an answer for you, but unfortunately even if a family member can advocate for you they may not be available at the time of a real emergency. But having an advocate can still be valuable on follow-up. For example, many years ago my husband asked my mother's cardiologist why he couldn't order cardiac rehab for her after she experienced an event. The cardiologist responded that because it was not diagnosed as a true heart attack, he could not. But my husband, being the persistent one that he is, said, why do we have to wait for that to happen. She obviously had a heart condition, why not take preventative measures. Lo and behold, and even to the doctor's surprise, the insurance did end up covering for her to have cardiac rehab.
What I'm trying to say by this is having someone who is not afraid to think outside of the box and ask questions can really make a difference. Unfortunately, it may not be feasible in all instances as you state.
Regarding medical misinformation on the web, I couldn't agree with you more. That's why I had recommended the sites from medical institutions instead in a previous post.