How to talk to a healthcare practitioner

If you have health issues or concerns that you want to talk to a clinician about, and if you’re at all nervous about it, it’s a good idea to make a list of what you want to talk about. You can also rehearse talking about it with a close friend or by yourself. This will help to make sure that you get your information and health concerns met. Take your time when explaining your concerns to your clinician. If you feel nervous about seeing a clinician by yourself, you have the right to bring a friend or a support person with you to your appointment and into the exam room. It’s a good idea to tell the clinician as much as you can about your health concerns, but you have the right to share only the information you want with the people serving you. You also have the right to know the names, role, and positions of the people serving you at the clinic, which can help you to follow up if needed (find them again, see them again, or refer to them). You have no obligation to continue to see a certain clinician if you don’t feel comfortable with them.

Privacy

You have the right to access private health care (confidential), this means that your health information or anything you discuss during your visit is not shared with anyone else. Not your parents or caregiver. Not your friends. Unless you agree to it being shared. The exceptions are if they think that you are going to cause harm to yourself (for instance, if they think you are about to commit suicide) or to others, or if you disclose that you are being abused, if you’re a minor. There are also certain diseases that doctors have to report – HIV is one of these, but you can be tested anonymously, so that there is no record of your status.

Respect

You have the right to receive treatment without being discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age. You also have the right to easily accessible health care services that are provided in a confidential, comfortable and respectful environment. You have the right to be presented with all the information you need in a safe environment. A clinician’s job is to give you as much information as possible so that you have enough information to assess (determine) your options and come to the best decision on your own. A clinician can advise you that a particular decision is the best one, but they should not impose their own ideas or beliefs on you, or judge your decision. Ultimately, you make your choices about your own health.