4 questions you should always ask your doctor | Christer Mjåset

"Doctor, is this really necessary?" Backed by startling statistics about overtreatment, neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset explains the power of this and other simple questions in the context of medical treatment and surgery -- and shares how patients can better work with doctors to get the care they need.

[clouds]

The questions:

Doctor, is this really necessary?

What are the risks?

Are there other options?

What happens if I don’t do anything?

10:42

[jhanmelabulog]

He thinks not only for the benefits of himself but for the humankind. Many thanks Doc.👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻

[rc]

My mother was diagnosed with cancer and given 2 months to live. We asked the doctor, how long will she live if she does chemo and he said "2 months" and if she doesn't ? "2 months." So there was no point in doing chemo, but chemo was all the doctor could offer. She did an alternative natural treatment w another doctor and lasted a total of 9 months. She went literally in one day and didn't have to suffer unnecessarily, yet she would've been miserable if she listened to her oncologist.

[nofanfelani]

Doctor: Congratulation, your wife is pregnant.

Me: Doctor, is this really necessary?

[ForAnAngel]

And if you're in America, the 5th question is:

How much will this cost?

[larasmith]

🦋so important to remember doctors only can treat what you tell them - you know your body the best so tell them everything

[ShaneHummus]

Has anyone asked their doctor who is his doctor when he gets sick?

[Wagmiman]

This is one of the best talks I’ve heard on TED

[saurabhaggarwal]

Brave & honest confession of the doctor and great advice to the patients, Thanks!

[CalLadyQED]

1. Is this really necessary?
2. What are the risks?
3. Are there other options?
4. What happens if I do nothing?

[sfiordalis]

One needs to invest 11 minutes of their time to get and understand the 4 questions :) Excellent presentation

[prashantpant]

In Nepal, My first question:
"Did you pass your Medical test, or you just bought the certificate?"

[bananashaveice]

This is an enlightening presentation! I wrote down the question for future use. In the U.S., we see a barrage of TV commercials promoting drugs for all sorts of ailments. The economic motivations may apply to prescribed drugs too.

[porstlab]

ask your doctor always “what was the worst mistake you ever made during this kind of operation?”

[BeKemeFeqadu]

I am surprised how this video doesn’t have millions of views, probably because of the title

[HBFTimmahh]

I pretty much asked these very questions when I was 13 in 1980 and having some moderate back pain. It started after the regional wrestling tournament where I wrestled 3 times on Friday, and twice on Saturday. I went to a Chiro who took some xrays, and suggested I go to a back Specialist as there was nothing he could do. These Drs wanted to use a Brass Hammer and Brass chisel to pound off boney growths I have on my vertebrae (all of them, they are winglike boney protrusions on all of my vertebrae). They (was a team of two back specialists) told me this operation was pretty much never been done before, they couldn't guarantee any improvement and even said there was the chance they would have a problem and they could potentially sever my spinal cord if the chisel were to slip or they were to hit it a bit too hard. I really couldn't believe what they were saying they wanted to 'TRY OUT' on me.
I literally told them they can 'Practice' on someone else, but I wasn't really keen on their treatment plan.

They prescribed my 750 Percosets and away I went. I tossed the Percoset after 4 days due to the weird feelings and even more weird thoughts.
I went out and got a bag of Pot that weekend, and never went back to a "Medical Practitioner. walked out the door and never went to a Dr again, except when I was really ill one time, and it turned out I had pneumonia. Yes, I still have back pain, but I have not let it stop me in my life. I have worked as a Construction worker building million-dollar homes, roofing, drywalling. I worked in the Lumber Industry clearing electrical lines. I have worked as an HSD Technician climbing TV, Radio and Cell Towers. I was also an active working Musician who performed nearly every weekend for much of the 40 years I played music. I am now 53. I am pretty much as healthy as I was when I graduated HS, though I have smoked cigarettes for the better part of my life as well.
I am also still an Active Cannabis Smoker and am working on my 3rd time quitting Cigarettes.
I'll never stop using Cannabis as it is the only substance that has EVER offered me any relief from my life long back issue.

[WierdEnufYa]

Another good question(s) to ask would be, "What will this do for me?"/"Will this make my life better?"
If possible, I would also advise getting a second opinion from other doctors, preferably if they are already familiar with or aware of your situation.



I have a long and complicated medical history and thus I've had many doctors over the years. Once, when going to see a doctor that was familiar with operating on me, I brought up an operation another doctor wanted to do on me. He proceeded to tell me it was a bad idea, why it was a bad idea, and gave me a long talk about asking questions like these. He also warned me that some doctors will operate simply to say that they did it, rather than for it being for the betterment of the patient.


I was fortunate enough to have a doctor that knew my situation and cared enough for my wellbeing to tell me I was making a mistake, and that opened my eyes. Not all doctors will go through the trouble to do that though, which is why it's important that patients remember they have a say in what happens to them and whether or not it's the best decision for them.

[abigailmckernwalkingwithpo]

THANK YOU Dr Mjaset this really needed to be said. Not only unnecessary operations but too many unnecessary pills and medications. We are being drastically overprescribed. They are finally realising the damage that has been done by far to much antibiotics too.

[BeKemeFeqadu]

1. Is this really necessarily?
2. What are the risks?
3. Are there other options ?
4. What happens if I don’t do anything ?

[Rosebud]

What a man...☺ Bravo for this talk....