Keep a medical journal. Write down appointment dates and doctor’s names. Write down prescription names and dosages. Double check your notes with your pharmacist regarding any medication.
Question. Ask questions. Write questions down as you think of them. Bring your list of questions to your doctor’s visits.
Bring a friend or family member with you. It can be helpful to have another set of ears to listen and help remember the doctor’s advice.
Educate yourself. Use the internet to do your own research. Ask friends or family members for doctor recommendations.
Trust your gut instinct. Often times, if something doesn’t seem right or feel right, it’s not. Do not be afraid to question. Medical professionals are only human too.
Get a real family history. Ask specific questions to parents or siblings about diseases etc. A thorough history can help your doctor form a proper diagnosis, faster.
Get a second opinion.
Avoiding Medical Malpractice
Wear your seatbelt. Keep children in the back seat in properly fitted seats or booster seats. No child under age 12 should ever ride in the front seat of a vehicle with an airbag.
Use an earpiece with a cell phone or avoid using a cell phone altogether while driving.
Be alert and anticipate hazards.
Use the crosswalks as a pedestrian.
Follow the rules of the road while bicycling and always wear a helmet.
ICE. Enter your emergency contact in your cell phone under ICE (In Case of Emergency). Emergency personnel are trained to look for it.
Set your own rules for your teen drivers regarding the number of friends or routes that can be taken.
Always watch for passengers exiting a bus to cut in front of the bus.
Report dangerous intersections or conditions to your alderman or call 311, in Chicago or look up non emergency numbers in the phone book.
Teach your children to avoid strange or unknown dogs, always ask the owners permission before petting animals. WALK away without looking a dog in the eye, if any threat is sensed.
Report dangerous road conditions or premises conditions
