Compare purpose, alternatives and uncertainty
Ask the clinician to connect a recommendation to your history and the information available. The discussion should include alternatives, practical demands, cost and what cannot be predicted. You can request written explanations and take time to consider them. A technique or treatment label should not be mistaken for a promise of a particular result.
Questions to take to your appointment
- Why is this number suggested?
- How are risks explained?
- What alternatives are available?
Keep the next step specific
Write down which question matters most to you and ask who can help answer it. This reading does not establish a diagnosis, a treatment recommendation or availability at a particular clinic. Contact the centre to discuss an individual consultation; do not include medical records in an initial email.