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- You are organized in giving information to your
doctor. You communicate your health care issues
efficiently, not waiting until the appointment is
almost over to mention something important.
- If your health care practitioner does something or
expresses herself in some way that you don't like,
you speak up promptly, clearly and politely so that
she has a chance to rectify the error, or to explain
the reason she behaved the way she did. (Even the
best health care practitioner does not "click" with
every patient. The problem might be hers, yours,
or a simple mismatch of personalities. If you don't
click, that's not the same thing as the physician
being incompetent or clueless; find other help
if you need to, but bad-mouthing the physician
without good reason is inappropriate.)
- If your health care practitioner does something or
expresses himself in some way that you do like, you
thank him!
- You don't judge your health care practitioner on
the basis of his gender, age, orientation, race or
background.
- You have appropriate personal boundaries
regarding your relationship with your health care
practitioner.
- If you are aware of your health care practitioner's
own sexual orientation or practices, you respect his
confidentiality when speaking to his colleagues,
staff and other patients.