Advocating for Yourself and Understanding Self Advocacy in Health Care
SPECIAL ISSUE: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Words: Betty Fermin + Emily Martin
ILLUSTRATION: DeAndra Hodge
Why is self advocacy important?
Speaking up for yourself in a doctor’s office can be difficult and scary. Practicing self advocacy in healthcare means recognizing that you know your body, your history, and your needs better than anyone else. When you find out that you have high blood pressure, you might feel confused about how to move forward. There’s a lot of information out there, so it’s important to know how to advocate for your health, especially when given advice that requires you to change your routines. Building self advocacy skills in health care helps you feel more prepared and confident during these conversations.
Doctors are there to help you and give you the information you need. They also have busy schedules and are trying to help as many people as possible. That means they have limited time with you, so there’s a lot they won’t know about your specific situation, needs, cultural background, and lifestyle. This is where cultural competence in healthcare becomes essential. When providers practice cultural competence in health care, they take time to understand your values, beliefs, and lived experiences so that treatment recommendations actually fit your life. This leaves you as your own best advocate. When you speak to any doctor or health care provider, it’s important to know what questions to ask in order to get the help you need.
We know that racial bias, discriminatory assumptions, and structural barriers to health care may impact the treatment you receive. These are also issues that patient rights advocacy groups work to address on a larger scale. On an individual level, you can still take steps to protect yourself. So do your research. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. Be clear and direct about your concerns and speak up if they aren’t being addressed.
You can also get a patient rights advocate to help you navigate the health care system. Advocates ask questions, write down information, and speak up for you. They help you get the care and resources you need. Whether you’re working with an advocate, a friend, or on your own, practicing everyday patient rights advocacy for yourself can mean asking for a second opinion, requesting a different provider, or bringing someone with you to support you.
Here are some steps you can take to advocate for yourself when talking to your doctor or health care provider:
1. Set the tone from the beginning of your visit.
Let the doctor know that you have some questions prepared and want to go over them. If you let doctors know this at the start of your exam, then they know what you’re looking for and how to address your concerns throughout the visit. This is a simple but powerful act of self advocacy and shows that you are actively involved in decisions about your care.
2. Know what questions to ask.
What are my blood pressure readings, and are these numbers typical?
Where do my numbers fall? Is my blood pressure high, normal, or low?
What are my treatment options?
Do you suggest medication? If so, what are the possible side effects?
What are the alternatives to medication?
How do my culture, diet, work schedule, and family responsibilities affect the treatment plan you’re recommending? Questions like this encourage cultural competence in health care and help ensure that your care is tailored to you.
3. Understand the answers to your questions.
You are entitled to a translator or ASL interpreter if you need one. Let your provider know what you need when you schedule your appointment. Access to clear communication is a basic part of patient rights advocacy and supports true informed consent in health care.
Feel free to ask your provider to rephrase something or to use plain language when explaining something to you. There is no shame in not being familiar with complex medical terms!
You don’t have to just accept the care that is given. Remember, you have the right to informed consent and refusal. Any time a health care provider wants to perform a procedure or treat you, even something as simple as putting in an IV line, they have an obligation to explain the procedure to you, the reason it is being suggested, and the associated benefits and risks. Then they must wait for your decision before continuing with the procedure. This process is called informed consent in health care, and it’s a core part of patient rights advocacy everywhere. Practicing informed consent in healthcare means you understand what is happening to your body and agree to it freely.
To show the doctor you are listening to them, repeat back what they said or ask clarifying questions. More importantly, say “I don't agree,” if you don’t. Even if the only reason you don't agree is because it makes you uncomfortable, that’s still valid. This is about your safety and comfort, so you should not give consent until you get the answers or information you need. Your voice in your own care is important, and using it is a powerful form of self advocacy.
