Facing a Serious Illness? Crucial Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Does it feel like your medical appointments rush by in a blur? In this video, Palliative Care Physician Dr. Jonathan Wong provides a clear roadmap for better understanding your illness. We cover the specific questions you should ask to get real answers about your diagnosis, treatment goals, and future. Discover: Why bringing a trusted friend or family member to appointments can make a huge difference. How to ask clear questions about your diagnosis and what it means for your body and function. Key questions to understand your symptoms and their causes. Critical inquiries about treatment options, their risks, benefits, and alternatives. Tough but vital questions about how treatments impact your quality of life and longevity. This approach is beneficial for any patient, with any diagnosis, at any stage of health. 💬 Remember: You are the most important person in the room. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to slow down or clarify anything you don’t understand. 00:00 Intro 01:01 Background 03:09 Suggestions 04:13 What to ask - general questions 05:24 Symptom related questions 06:03 Treatment related questions 07:29 Tough questions 08:14 Closing 🔗 Introductory video & disclaimers:    • Welcome to Palliative Care Explained! Decl...   About this channel: Brought online March 28, 2025, Palliative Care Explained is a channel aimed at answering your questions about palliative care. My formal medical training is in internal medicine and palliative care and I have been working in the field of palliative care since 2011. It is my hope that this channel will better inform viewers about palliative care and end of life care. #palliativecare #endoflifecare #palliative Intro music written & recorded by: Jonathan Wong Committee advisors: Dr. P. Daeninck MD, MSc, FRCPC Dr. E. Giannouli MD, FRCPC Dr. J. Strutinsky-Mason MD, MSc, MRCP (UK) Disclaimer and medical-legal statements: *As a medical professional speaking to you, I hereby declare that I do not have any conflicts of interest that would compromise the integrity of the presented information. *I do not have any financial sponsors nor am I receiving any funding from the pharmaceutical industry. *This channel and its production, is my own undertaking, with support from other palliative care experts. *This video series is for educational purposes only and is intended for audiences in Canada. *The presented information may not be applicable to all viewers. *I am not providing any direct medical treatment or advice to the viewer. *These videos are not meant to imply or establish a therapeutic relationship with the viewer. *These videos are not to replace or subvert the advice from the viewer’s own doctor or health care provider team. *Any further questions should be directed to the medical team most familiar with the viewer’s unique situation. References and further reading: Palliative Medicine – A Cased Based Manual Fourth Edition MacDonald S, Herx L, Boyle A Copyright Oxford University Press 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine Sixth Edition Cherny N, Fallon M, Kaasa S, Portenoy R, Currow D. Copyright Oxford University Press 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. JAMA Evidence Care at the close of life – Evidence and Experience McPhee S, Winker M, Rabow M, Pantilat S, Markowitz A Copyright American Medical Association 2011. Published by McGraw-Hill.