New patient information booklet from Medical Council

“This booklet was developed with the aim of providing patients with clear and accessible information in relation to interactions with their doctor,” said Medical Council Vice President and Chair of the Ethics and Professionalism Committee, Dr Audrey Dillon.

“It gives pragmatic advice on the different aspects of care and also gets into the trickier theoretical issues which may arise during the course of treatment. I hope that this booklet will be a helpful resource for patients looking for guidance in relation to their own healthcare.”

The booklet also explains the different types of doctors that might treat patients, what patients can expect from their doctor and how one can work with their doctor to improve their care.

Member of the Ethics and Professionalism Committee and external lead advisor for the World Health Organisation’s Patients for Patient Safety Programme, Ms Margaret Murphy was involved in the drafting of the booklet.

“This patient booklet is extremely useful as it informs members of the public on aspects of care which they may not otherwise consider, for example what they can expect from their doctor, what their doctors needs to know and what to do if something goes wrong,” said Ms Murphy.

“If a patient goes into their doctor feeling more knowledgeable and informed, the experience is likely to be better and most importantly adverse events are less likely to occur.”

See http://www.medicalcouncil.ie/News-and-Publications/Reports/Working%20with%20Your%20Doctor.html