The profession which claims, “first do no harm”, has weighed in on controversial issues surrounding health care.

A survey of British physicians has revealed a paradigm shift in how medicine views patient responsibility.

“Lifestyle rationing” has become a way of qualifying patient care.

Health care budgets hit by rising costs and a huge increase in preventable chronic illness is reaching it’s limit.

The survey by doctors.net.uk, which claims nearly 192,000 members, found that 593, or 54 percent, of the 1,096 doctors who participated answered yes to this question: “Should the NHS be allowed to refuse non-emergency treatments to patients unless they lose weight or stop smoking?”

Doctors who approved gave a few examples, The Observer said:
Denying in-vitro fertilization to childless women who smoke was justified because the procedure was only half as successful for them as for non-smokers.
Obese or alcoholic patients should be expected to change their behaviors before undergoing liver transplant surgery.

There are things that drive doctor crazy.

Specifically, 5 things.

In their best efforts to care for patients physicians have to deal with misinformation and lack of education when dealing with patients.

Sometimes a little information is a dangerous thing when it is taken out of context.

A patient’s lack of medical knowledge can turn even the most conscientious consumer into a believer of half truths and unsubstantiated outcomes.

Poor communication is also a huge concern.

Tell your doctor everything when asked. What you don’t know could hurt you.

Some test results are too important to wait for your doctor to get around to calling you.

Patients need to start taking the initiative when it comes to their healthcare.

There are a few steps every patient can take to stay on top of test results. For starters, always ask which test is being performed and when to expect the results. Stream says he’s very specific with patients: “I tell them, ‘I’m scheduling a CT scan of your abdomen, and if you don’t hear from me in three days, call me.’ ” If your doctor doesn’t spell out these details clearly on his own, nudge him along.

Patients need to be active players in their health care.

Often a patient can be out of sight and out of mind.

Staying on top of your care is the best way to insure that you’re getting the best service.