From: BMJ 2004;328, doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7436.0-f

Richard Smith, editor of the British Medical Journal, recently highlighted the importance of developing a relationship with your doctor. As a patient, it is important to make sure that you inquire about all your treatment options when confronting AS or other diseases. Sometimes physicians may believe in one kind of treatment routinely, but there may be other treatment options available to you. When fully informed about all their treatment options, patients will often choose very differently among them.

Smith states, “The main arguments against fully informing patients are that ‘It’s too difficult, costly and time consuming.’ But [those reasons] are neither evidence based nor politically sustainable. The nature of a treatment, preparation required, time required, cost and side effects should all be considered before choosing the treatment option that is right for you.