Just got back from a conference and I have to share this one because it stopped me in my tracks.
A colleague told me something a mentor once said to him, and it’s stuck with me ever since: “I am never going to force you to do a procedure. And I’m never going to let you force me to do a procedure.”
Sometimes the best treatment is no treatment, and we can’t be afraid to tell patients that, even when it disappoints them. And sometimes it’s the opposite — a patient really wants a certain procedure or treatment, and it’s my job to say no if I don’t think it’s right, safe, or appropriate for them.
I know saying no can feel disappointing in the moment. We want to make our patients happy. But those are exactly the moments that matter most — because good care isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what’s right.
Has a doctor ever told you no on something you really wanted done? How did you feel about it after? #justsayno
A colleague told me something a mentor once said to him, and it’s stuck with me ever since: “I am never going to force you to do a procedure. And I’m never going to let you force me to do a procedure.”
Sometimes the best treatment is no treatment, and we can’t be afraid to tell patients that, even when it disappoints them. And sometimes it’s the opposite — a patient really wants a certain procedure or treatment, and it’s my job to say no if I don’t think it’s right, safe, or appropriate for them.
I know saying no can feel disappointing in the moment. We want to make our patients happy. But those are exactly the moments that matter most — because good care isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what’s right.
Has a doctor ever told you no on something you really wanted done? How did you feel about it after? #justsayno