Most physicians realize that there are several modes of treatment for every illness. Many believe that the ultimate decision about which treatment should be used belongs to the patient. In the past, however, the patient has relied on the physician to provide information about the various appropriate treatments. As a result, many patients have an idea how they wish to be treated before they even see their doctor. One result of this change is that the patient may feel more of a partner in the process of treatment because he or she has had an active role in its choice.
Physicians have a responsibility to use their experience to guide patients.
Just because a patient has increasing access to medical information and makes a decision about his diagnosis and treatment doesn't mean he is correct. A physician has no obligation to give a patient exactly what he or she wants if it isn't appropriate. At the same time, a physician should be tolerant of a well-informed, outspoken patient who has an appropriate request for treatment. Rather than interpreting the patient's demands as a challenge to his knowledge and competence, a physician should view it as an impetus to learn more about the new medical information resources so he can integrate them into his practice of medicine. He might have had some difficulty maintaining his equanimity if patients came into his consulting rooms with detailed medical information and demands for a specific treatment.