You Have the Right to Choose

A current medical approach  (called risk/benefit analysis) is making it easier for doctors and patients to cooperate in avoiding blood therapy.  Doctors weight factors  such as the risks of certain drug or surgery and the probable benefits. Patients too share in such analysis.

Let us use one example that people in many places can  relate to-chronic tonsillitis.  If you had this problem, likely you would go to a doctor.  In fact, you might consult two, since health experts often recommend getting a  second opinion.  One might recommend surgery.  He outlines what that means: length of stay in the hospital,  amount of pain, and cost.  As to risks, he says that severe bleeding is not common and death from an operation is very rare.  But the doctor giving the second opinion urges you to try antibiotic therapy.  He explains the type of drug, likelihood of success, and expense. As to risk, he says that very few patients have life-threatening reactions to the drug. 

Next time: You Have the Right to Choose -RELIEVING LEGAL CONCERNS

From the jw.org publications