Re: Recording your session at the doctor's office

[Guest guest]

I recorded my sessions with all the doctors I consulted (three surgeons and one radiation oncologist who specialized in prostate cancer). None raised objections, and I did it because I would never be able to absorb all the information they would throw at me, especially in a highly emotional situation. I also transcribed the sessions into my computer when I got home. That allowed me to see anything I didn't understand so I could ask follow up questions, and also see the questions I didn't ask. Thinking back on it, I wondered if the doctors might have been more carefull in their statements because of the recorder, afterall, it might be used in court if there was occasion for a suit later. If they were more cautious, it could be good or bad. It might make them think more carefully and answer more fully, or it might make them so cautious they left out

anything that could be taken the right way but which might have been helpful. Overall, I was glad I did it and I would recommend it to anyone. As I said, when you are told you have cancer your mind can go blank.

Mike C.

Subject: Recording your session at the doctor's officeTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Monday, November 15, 2010, 5:39 PM

Emerson just suggested recording the session at a doctor'soffice.I've heard this suggestion before and it sounds like a great ideato me.Has anyone done this? How did it go? How did the doctor react?How useful was the tape?Thanks.--Alan Meyerameyer2@... ------------------------------------There are just two rules for this group 1 No Spam 2 Be kind to othersPlease recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we cannot and should not tell other members

what to do, other than look at other options. Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking replyTry to change the title if the content requires it

[Guest guest]

That's an excellent idea. I for one have a hard time deciphering my

scrawling notes later, and for another, sometimes forget to bring

things up at the visit because I'm concentrating on getting what the

Doc just said scribbled down.

Also a recording would be useful to be able to review right before

your next visit.

Subject: Recording your session at the doctor's office

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Date: Monday, November 15, 2010, 5:39 PM

Emerson just suggested recording the session at a doctor's

office.

I've heard this suggestion before and it sounds like a great idea

to me.

Has anyone done this?  How did it go?  How did the doctor react?

How useful was the tape?

Thanks.

--

Alan Meyer

ameyer2@...

ProstateCancerSupport

[Guest guest]

Alan,

I used an iPod Nano to record meetings with my wife's surgeon repeated times. I

did not ask the surgeon about whether he would agree to recording or not but did

it on my own. That may seem somewhat devious but I did not want to flavor the

exchange.

The iPod Nano is very small and you can carry it like any other portable music

or radio device. There is no sign whether it is ON or OFF so it is not apparent

that you are recording.

My intent was not one of legality but accurate recall. That is exactly what it

helped accomplish because, after one meeting, my wife and I got into a dispute

over what her surgeon had said. Playing back the recording clarified exactly

what had been said. Without the recording, I am confident that we would NOT have

accurately recalled the conversation.

I would very strongly recommend recording meetings with medical professionals.

Rich L

Green Bay, WI

PS It is very easy to activate the very small and inconspicuous iPod Nano, hold

it or place it discreetly out of the way, and record everything in the exchange.

>

> Emerson just suggested recording the session at a doctor's

> office.

>

> I've heard this suggestion before and it sounds like a great idea

> to me.

>

> Has anyone done this? How did it go? How did the doctor react?

> How useful was the tape?

>

> Thanks.

>

> --

> Alan Meyer

> ameyer2@...

>

[Guest guest]

Alan --

I've recorded one session with my wife's cardiologist. The recorder was

unobtrusive, but not hidden, so I think he accepted it. I also took notes --

I'm good at that, lots of practice in school.

I found that my notes covered most of the stuff on the recording. And it takes

_forever_ (or seems to) to go through a recording and transcribe it. If I took

_bad_ notes, the recording would have been very useful.

My habit (with my urologist) was to go in with a document that had my questions

for him, triple-spaced. I took my notes on my copy of it.

>

> Emerson just suggested recording the session at a doctor's

> office.

>

> I've heard this suggestion before and it sounds like a great idea

> to me.

>

> Has anyone done this? How did it go? How did the doctor react?

> How useful was the tape?

>

> Thanks.

>

> --

> Alan Meyer

> ameyer2@...

>

[Guest guest]

One more thing:

I _always_ had my wife by my side at those appointments. What I missed, she

caught, and vice versa.

>

>

> >

> > Emerson just suggested recording the session at a doctor's

> > office.

> >

> > I've heard this suggestion before and it sounds like a great idea

> > to me.

> >

> > Has anyone done this? How did it go? How did the doctor react?

> > How useful was the tape?

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

> > --

> > Alan Meyer

> > ameyer2@

> >

>