I have my first Rheumatology appointment tomorrow in over two years and consequently have countless questions which I need to ask regarding my illness over that time and about issues and concerns I am currently experiencing.
I have written them all down long hand so I can make notes of the responses I get otherwise I will almost certainly forget half of what is discussed when I get out.
I realise it would obviously be down to the individual consultant in any case but am interested to know whether it would be reasonable to ask if I could record the session for my personal use or whether this would be a completely unreasonable request. I certainly wouldn’t want to get off on the wrong foot by annoying the consultant at the start of my appointment.
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Hightower62
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You could ring the consultant’s secretary to see how well recording would be received. They’ll know. If the answer’s no could you take someone in with you who could write down the answers to your questions?
Either way you’ll want to remember what they’ve told you as if you’re anything like most of us you’ll forget half of what you’ve been told before you’ve left the room. Actually, make that most of it…….! 😟Good luck with the appointment.
To be honest I can’t see the rheumy being keen on that and as AC says you might get more honest answers without recording the consultation. You can always ask but as you say it might get you off on the wrong foot.
Could you take someone with you who could maybe take notes or could you just jot your questions down as bullet points - starting with the most important first in case you find you run out of time? I’ve also heard of people printing out a couple of copies their list of questions and giving one to the doctor to look at while they are talking.
That might be less off putting for your rheumatologist than turning up with a page of handwritten notes.
It’s not exactly a bad idea - it would certainly make life easier for patients if we could do that - it’s just that I don’t think your rheumy would feel happy being recorded
Agree with others, that you’ll get more honest responses without recording. They fear it being used against them, and most Trusts encourage clinicians not to put theirselves at risk. It’s a similar reason most don’t reply by email.
I would write bullet points rather than long notes, which is less daunting for the rheumatologist than long hand notes. I’d prioritise them in what you most need answers too, as you may run out of time. Give them a copy at the start, so they can drop in answers as the conversation flows, then there is left needing to be addressed near the end.
I always take a list of questions! And when the consultant is trying to wind up the consultation (he/she should ask if you you have anything else you want to ask!), I say something like 'Can I just look at my list to make sure that we've covered everything?'
I can then ask something if it hasn't been. Unfortunately, this does mean that, often, only one of those outstanding questions gets answered! You would need to be really tenacious to ask more than one, or possibly two, queries.
I ask if the consultant can run through what the medical plan for the future consists of. This gives me a better idea of what they have in mind for the future.
I certainly would not ask to record the consultation - it suggests that you are likely to be litigious. I already have a label of being a 'difficult' patient - although they do use me a lot for teaching junior doctors and students!
I think it depends on the consultant my sisters hubby did it at his cancer appointment so they did it forget anything and he allowed the recording and said it happens a lot now instead of note taking. I am asking mine on Fri for ease too .
Best of luck I would make brief questions and gave it to them unfortunately my recent appointment I was out the door in no time but did ask a couple of questions
Again as others have said bullet points of 3-4 of main important questions as Consultant won't answer loads , hasn't got the time to answer everyones questions .So bullet points could be treatment plan, side effects,your main issues of pain . Going forward
It's a great idea and would be very helpful to patients if they were allowed to do this, however, as others have said, I don't think it will be well received and if it is, the consultant will be thinking carefully about what he/she says.
I get copies of letters from my consultation that are sent to the GP so you could ask the secretary or at the reception when you book in if you could do the same It is very helpful to refer back to if needed.
I would write down brief points of the issues you would like to discuss in order of priority and hand that to the consultant, who can then go through each one as needed. You'll then be able to expand on the points in question and discuss them. If the questions are in front of the consultant then it is less likely that they'll be ignored.
Good luck. I hope you have a successful appointment. x
I totally understand why you would want to. It's sometimes such a quick visit that I'm heading home replaying in my head the main points. When I see the Gp they have a letter dictated to them by the specialist. I am in Australia so I presume it's the same where you are. So it's interesting to see the letter or have the Gp read it to me to clarify points. Good luck. I'm sure the younger doctors wouldn't object.
I agree with Aged Crone, asking for a recording could seem a teeny bit confrontational. Print out a list of questions and go through them calmly. Or, take someone with you. Do you know this consultant? If you do have concerns or feel you have more pain etc , don’t walk in and go all flippant ( like I do) . Be realistic not apologetic , your pain is your pain and will still be there tomorrow if you do not tell ,him/ her/ them. Good luck , hold head high .
I may say these things but, I failed on all counts and got absolurely NO answers . None. Now , I am no further forward and in escalating pain . Wish I had been more assertive. L
Thank you, I just had my appointment and the consultant was brilliant. Didn’t rush me and happily answered all my questions. My wife made notes so no recording necessary 😊.
At times when I had fatigue, I asked my consultant if she'd mind if I record the conversations we were having and she didn't mind at all. Thought it was a good idea, because I wouldn't come back with already answered questions later. I hope you'll get some honest answers.
The advice and guidance given to doctors is that patients have the right to record their consultations, and although the patient doesn't have to ask permission to record, it would be polite if they do so.
I routinely record all appointments with consultants now, either for myself or my son. Sometimes I tell them I am doing it but often they don't give you an opportunity to tell them because they launch straight into the consultation.
Research backs up the need for patients to have recordings of their medical encounters. Patients typically only remember about 30% of their appointment, and with the passage of time they will remember much less than that.
Research (my academic area is in human computer interaction and user experience) shows that people are not put off by being recorded. Once the recording device is switched on and put aside, they very quickly forget it is there.
Recording appointments is routine in certain domaines, as someone has mentioned, cancer is one of them. The research showed that patients rarely remembered anything accurately from the appointment where they were told they had cancer, and some places now record the appointments and give the patient a copy of it.
One thing to remember though, you can only use your recording for personal reasons. Recordings like this can not be used in a court of law. The recording is your data, and you can use it for your own purposes, it is not the data of the doctor.
So go ahead and record it. Tell them you are recording it so that you don't forget anything. And if they object, point them in the direction of the British Medical Association's website on recording consultations:
Thank you for taking the time to reply, I managed the appointment ok this time without recording as I wasn’t sure about it and fortunately it went really well with my wife taking notes.
I will certainly bear this in mind for future appointments especially if on my own
As others have said, it is unlikely that you will remember everything discussed. For that reason I always ask for a copy of the letter sent to my GP following the appointment. It has proved really useful in various circumstances, it lists all the conditions and the medications prescribed plus any updates to my health outside the RA diagnosis. I do also take a few notes if necessary.
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