The patient-physician relationship should be built on a foundation of communication and respect.

These are the basics:

Availability

Your physician should keep reasonable office hours and be available by phone. He should schedule adequate time for an office visit to make a diagnosis and answer questions. But remember, even with careful scheduling, appointments can back up, and you may have to wait. Once a patient is in the examination room, it may take longer than expected if the diagnosis is more complicated than could be foreseen. Please be patient -- you expect the doctor to take the same care and diligence when it's your turn.

Communication

Your doctor should welcome your questions -- they help him make a correct diagnosis. The more you prepare yourself, using the guides in this handbook, the more effectively you can communicate.

Notice of Fees

Your doctor should be willing to tell you fees in advance and give notice of increases. But some fees are like estimates -- you may need more care than expected or a procedure may be more difficult than could be reasonably predicted. It is reasonable for the doctor to let you know as soon as he discovers the fee is likely to exceed the estimate.

Access to Medical Records

While the physical medical records belong to the physician's office, you have a right to access and make copies of your medical information. Under special circumstances, a physician may want to withhold a portion of the record that he deems harmful to a patient at a certain stage of treatment, but he should be ready to explain why.

Guarantees

There is one thing your physician cannot give -- a guaranteed result. Since people invented automobiles, it is fair to expect them to give warranties. But nobody is smart enough to design a human body, and spare parts are unavailable. All medical decisions are based on probability. Despite tremendous developments, our understanding of the body is still limited, and many diseases and problems are beyond our power to cure.

The only guarantee your physician can make is that he will treat you with respect, and use the full extent of his training and wisdom in providing your care.

Find out more about setting these and other expectations with your doctor or medical professional. Read "Talking to your Doctor: Getting the Most out of a Phone Consultation or Office Visit"