Alum answers questions patients should be asking
Dylan Schnake
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
Western Illinois University alum Margaret Fitzpatrick presented her book, "What to Ask the Doc: The Questions to Ask to Get the Answers You Need" in the University Union Grand Ballroom on Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. The presentation was followed by a book sale, signing and reception.
Fitzpatrick is a trauma nurse specialist. She has worked with many medical centers in Chicago, including Advocate Christ Hospital, the busiest trauma center in the state of Illinois.
She was raised in Chicago's south side, the youngest in a family of 16 children. She received her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Western Illinois University in 1985 and later attended Rush University in Chicago where she received her bachelor's in nursing.
"The reason I went to Western is because I had a sister at both Northern and Southern, and I wanted somewhere different," she said. "No one in my family had attended WIU and that appealed to me."
She was awarded MVP by Advocate Christ and was honored by the mayor of Chicago in November 2002 for her work in nursing in school.
Fitzpatrick's book explains what types of questions people should ask doctors so individuals can be properly informed about anything from operations to medicines being prescribed to them.
Fitzpatrick feels that people ask more questions when they are buying a car than when they are about to go into surgery. She suggests that people should always know what the procedure is, why it is being done, the risks and benefits and if there are any alternatives before they consent to surgery.
The book is a how-to on what questions to ask. It addresses upwards of 70 topics with suggested questions and places to seek more information about each topic and is ranked sixth on the bestseller list at Amazon.com.
The author explained that people are responsible for asking their doctors questions.
"At some point you will have to put your feet on the ground and take control," Fitzpatrick informed the audience.
She also pointed out that when a nurse comes out of the operating room for you to sign a consent form and it is not an emergency, you should ask to speak with the surgeon.
Most people think that it is presumptuous to ask the surgeon to come out of the operating room. Fitzpatrick explains if it is not an emergency, than it really is no big deal for the surgeon to explain things before you give consent.
The one thing that Fitzpatrick feels all people should know is that if you can not think of anything else to ask the doctor, ask what she calls the "magic question."
"Ask, 'If you are faced with a decision, would you do this if it was your loved one?'" Fitzpatrick said. She suggests using the question anytime when you do not know what to ask the doctors but feel like you need to be more informed.
Fitzpatrick is a trauma nurse specialist. She has worked with many medical centers in Chicago, including Advocate Christ Hospital, the busiest trauma center in the state of Illinois.
She was raised in Chicago's south side, the youngest in a family of 16 children. She received her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Western Illinois University in 1985 and later attended Rush University in Chicago where she received her bachelor's in nursing.
"The reason I went to Western is because I had a sister at both Northern and Southern, and I wanted somewhere different," she said. "No one in my family had attended WIU and that appealed to me."
She was awarded MVP by Advocate Christ and was honored by the mayor of Chicago in November 2002 for her work in nursing in school.
Fitzpatrick's book explains what types of questions people should ask doctors so individuals can be properly informed about anything from operations to medicines being prescribed to them.
Fitzpatrick feels that people ask more questions when they are buying a car than when they are about to go into surgery. She suggests that people should always know what the procedure is, why it is being done, the risks and benefits and if there are any alternatives before they consent to surgery.
The book is a how-to on what questions to ask. It addresses upwards of 70 topics with suggested questions and places to seek more information about each topic and is ranked sixth on the bestseller list at Amazon.com.
The author explained that people are responsible for asking their doctors questions.
"At some point you will have to put your feet on the ground and take control," Fitzpatrick informed the audience.
She also pointed out that when a nurse comes out of the operating room for you to sign a consent form and it is not an emergency, you should ask to speak with the surgeon.
Most people think that it is presumptuous to ask the surgeon to come out of the operating room. Fitzpatrick explains if it is not an emergency, than it really is no big deal for the surgeon to explain things before you give consent.
The one thing that Fitzpatrick feels all people should know is that if you can not think of anything else to ask the doctor, ask what she calls the "magic question."
"Ask, 'If you are faced with a decision, would you do this if it was your loved one?'" Fitzpatrick said. She suggests using the question anytime when you do not know what to ask the doctors but feel like you need to be more informed.
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