Be actively involved in your own healthcare.
Take part in every decision to help prevent things form going wrong and get the best possible care for your needs.
Speak up if you have any questions.
Ask questions. Expect answers that you can understand. Arrange for a family member, carer or interpreter to be there with you for extra support.
Learn more about your condition or treatment.
Collect as much reliable information as you can.
Ask your health care professional:
- What should I look out for?
- Please tell me more about my condition, tests and treatment.
- How will the tests or treatments help me and what is involved?
- What are the risks and what is likely to happen if I don’t have this treatment?
Keep a list of all the medicines you are taking.
Include:
- prescriptions, over the counter and complementary medicines (eg vitamins and herbs); and
- information about drug allergies you may have.
Make sure you understand the medicines you are taking. Read the label, including the warnings. Make sure it is what your doctor ordered for you.
Ask about:
- directions for use;
- possible side effects or interactions;
- how long you’ll need to take it.
Get the results of any test or procedure.
It is your responsibility to ensure you follow up your results. Ask what these results mean for your care.
