Misdiagnosis: Questions to Ask

Correct diagnosis starts with clear communication. To communicate effectively and efficiently with our doctors, the best strategy is to take a list with us to the doctor’s office and leave it with the doctor to become part of the chart. Then we should be sure to take home with us another list—the action plan. Having an advocate-ally with us for the visit is another key element for clear communication and understanding.

When the diagnosis is in doubt, here is one simple way you can help your doctor and possibly save your own life. Ask this simple question:

“Doctor, what else could it be?”

This question is not for every visit. But it’s a great, important, lifesaving question when:

• the doctor obviously hasn’t fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, when the patient has developed simultaneous symptoms that might fit into one diagnostic box and the doctor wants to parcel them out into two or more unrelated boxes);
• the doctor is unsure about what’s wrong but tries to reassure you that it probably is nothing to worry about; or
• the doctor has seen you multiple times, and your body isn’t responding to his or her treatment plan.