The best way to stay in control of decisions that affect
you is to think of yourself as a partner in your own care and to
act like one. But it's not always easy to present yourself as a
competent and active decision-maker when you're wearing a hospital
gown or when it's hard for you to move around. The people who work
in hospitals and doctors' offices aren't intending to make you feel
uncomfortable or undignified, but that can be the effect of the
procedures they follow.
To
increase your comfort level and hold onto your dignity, you can:
Keep
your clothes on
Although
a gown might be necessary for a medical exam, it's not a requirement
for having a conversation. When talking is high on the agenda,
or when you're meeting a practitioner for the first time,
you can choose to stay dressed until it's time for the exam.
That can be an important reminder to you and to medical staff
that you're a person first and a patient second.
Sit
in a chair
Stay
in the role of person-not-patient by waiting in a chair rather
than on the exam table. When a health professional comes into
the room, they will see you, not your medical condition. If
you're unable to sit in a chair, have the head of an exam
table or hospital bed raised to a comfortable near-sitting
position. Then invite the doctor or nurse to sit in a place
that allows you to converse easily.
Find
some privacy
If a health professional begins a conversation with you in a spot that's more public than you would like, for example in a hospital corridor, ask him or her to join you in a more private location like your hospital room. And if that's not private enough you can ask if there's a conference room available. You should not have to feel like the details of your illness and your medical care are on display to total strangers. Think about privacy at home too. When you want to talk to a health professional without a family member present, feel free to say so.
