Speak Up About Your Health!

Part of becoming an adult means learning how to advocate for yourself. When it comes to your health, you can voice your concerns or ask questions in a clear and polite way.

Here are some tips that may help:

• Write down your concerns before you see a doctor or other healthcare provider. Bring your notes to your appointment and make sure you have covered everything.
• Practice speaking about your health condition with a parent, friend, or someone else you trust. This will help you explain your health condition clearly.
• Ask questions! It is your body, and you need information to make informed decisions about your health.
• Keep track of all your doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers including who you see, when you see them, and what you talked about.
• Stay calm and polite but assert yourself to get the support or information you need.
• Speak up if you don’t agree with your healthcare provider. You are the boss of your own healthcare. No one knows your body better than you do.

If you think you have communicated clearly but do not feel the healthcare provider ‘heard’ you, or you do not agree with the choices for treatment, you can get a second opinion. For more information or support, you can contact Patient Concerns and Feedback or Alberta Health Advocates.