Following the Patient's Lead

The old adage “the doctor knows best” affirms patients’ trust in a physician’s impartial and expert opinion in matters of health, but can physicians continue to be solo managers of patient care? At Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Renee C. Comizio, M.D., M.S., board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is providing an avenue for breast cancer patients to take an active role in defining their own treatments through shared decision-making.

The shared decision-making program is founded in the belief that each patient has the right to choose the most appropriate medical treatment for his or her life and medical concern. An informed medical decision ensures safety and personalized care while reducing the chance of treatment being tailored to the physician’s preference rather than the patient’s needs and desires.

Read more at: http://www.mdnews.com/news/2011_12/05782_novdec2011_following-the-patient

Source: MDNews.com