How can I advocate for myself in the hospital?

Being your own advocate is an essential part of ensuring you get good medical care. It can also help to decrease mistakes.

Being an advocate means looking out for your care. It involves staying informed and aware of all aspects of the services you are receiving. Instead of leaving everything up to the doctors and nurses, you are at the forefront of everything that is happening. But being your own advocate can be tough. It requires taking certain steps.

Ask questions

One of the best ways to get informed and stay on top of your care is to ask questions about everything. Make your doctors explain why they ordered a certain test or require a specific medication. Learn about your condition or situation, and do not let your caregivers ignore you or refuse to answer. You have a right to know what is happening with your care and why a certain treatment is necessary.

Keep documentation

You should ask for or make a list of all medications you are taking. Whenever someone administers more medication, you should always check what it is and get the details about dosage and frequency. This is the best way to prevent medication errors that could cause you harm.

Speak up

If you feel something is not right or you feel like something is not working, speak up. You may not be a trained medical professional but you know your body the best. Do not hesitate to say something if you think there is something wrong. Being your own advocate means being willing to question and call out caregivers to look out for what is best for yourself.