One of the major worries most IVF patients have is about the competence of their IVF doctor. While most patients select an IVF clinic based on its reputation, the sad truth is that there is not much correlation with the actual quality of the medical treatment they receive and the brand name of the clinic. Many "big name" clinics are very impersonal and are run like assembly lines. The patient rarely gets to meet the doctor and most of the care is provided either by the nurses of the assistants. Patients feel they are helpless and passively put up with poor quality care, because they do not know what else they can do.
A much bigger problem is the lack of transparency and documentation . Most IVF clinics do not even bother to provide patients with a simple treatment summary ! Patients are clueless about basics, such as the number of follicles seen on the ultrasound scans; the number of eggs collected; the number of embryos formed ; and the quality of their embryos .
Patients are forced to blindly trust their doctor - and those who dare to ask questions are rudely put in their place !
What's worse is that it's well known that some IVF clinics will use your eggs ( without your permission) and gift them to someone else ! Not only is this plain unethical and wrong - it also significantly reduces your chances of getting pregnant !
How can you protect yourself ?
The answer is simple ! Ask questions - it's your body and your treatment ! You are paying a lot of money and you need the answers.
Please learn to ask intelligent questions ! Do your homework, so you do not have to bother the staff with basic questions to which you can find the answers yourself by going online. However, you need to find out details about your own treatment and how it is progressing. Ask for prints of your ultrasound scans and photos of your embryos. This is basic documentation, which every clinic should routinely provide !
If they do not answer your questions , this should be a red flag - beware ! A good doctor will share information - why should they hide anything ?
IVF treatment is too important for you to leave everything upto your doctor
you need to take an intelligent interest in your treatment. Taking treatment at a world-class clinic will maximise your chances of success and give you peace of mind you did your best !
Not sure about what questions to ask ? Get a free second opinion at www.drmalpani.com !
Dear Doctor,
ReplyDeleteYour site is a v refreshing one and definately the best site ever on IVF and doctor-patient relationships.
Keep up the good work.