So you have found a doctor whose personality and attitudes you feel will permit a productive relationship based on mutual respect, confidence, and cooperation. What should you be prepared to expect from each other as this relationship begins?

The Doctor's Responsibilities

You, the patient, are entitled to certain things from your doctor: (1) an accurate diagnosis of your disease and, if possible, identification of factors that make your condition worse; (2) attentiveness to your "story" and honest answers to your questions about symptoms, treatment, and the future; (3) a treatment plan that will permit you to live as normal a life as possible; (4) an education that will teach you both about your disease and the proper use of medications and other therapeutic techniques; (5) adequately close contactmeaning that your doctor is reachable and returns telephone calls within a reasonable amount of timeso that appropriate intervention, when needed, can be done quickly enough to avoid a hospital stay if this is possible; (6) prompt hospitalization when it is needed. If you become a patient in the clinic of a large city hospital, these responsibilitiesexcept for (1), (3), and (6) usually do not apply. Although the clinical aspects of your disease will be