When a doctor recommends a procedure, test, surgery, or treatment, it can be hard to know what to ask in the moment. Asking questions is part of understanding your care.
1. What problem is this procedure meant to address?
Ask your provider to explain the specific condition, symptom, test result, or risk that the procedure is meant to help with.
2. What are the expected benefits?
Try to understand both the best-case outcome and the most likely outcome. Ask what improvement is realistic and how success will be measured.
3. What are the risks and possible complications?
Every procedure has some level of risk. Ask which risks are common, which are rare, and which would be serious.
4. Are there alternatives?
Ask whether medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, monitoring, watchful waiting, or less invasive choices may be reasonable.
5. What happens if I wait?
Sometimes waiting is risky. Other times, monitoring may be reasonable. Ask whether the decision is urgent, time-sensitive, or elective.
6. Who will perform the procedure?
Ask who will perform it, how often they do it, and who to contact afterward.
7. What will recovery be like?
Ask about pain, fatigue, limitations, driving, work, exercise, lifting, and warning signs after the procedure.
8. What should I do before the procedure?
Ask for written instructions about medications, eating or drinking, tests, clearances, and what to bring.
9. What will this cost me?
Ask whether the provider and facility are in-network, whether separate bills are expected, and whether prior authorization is needed.
10. Can I have time to think or get a second opinion?
Unless the situation is urgent or emergent, ask how soon you need to decide and whether a second opinion is reasonable.
I want to make sure I understand my options before I decide. Can we go over the benefits, risks, alternatives, recovery, cost, and what happens if I wait?