Medical Advocacy: The Basics & 8 Ways to Master this Super Power, Chapter 4

Difficult turns to dangerous when the biased misconceptions about people with chronic illnesses or disabilities bleed into our healthcare system. 

In this episode, we discuss the 8 ways you can harness the super power most of us forget we have; our voice.

There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes these groups face every day, and one of the biggest is this idea that we should be "grateful" and "consider ourselves lucky" or "blessed" for everything and every accommodation we are "given", including our healthcare.

Unfortunately, the idea that because we are "given" maybe "more than we deserve", our voice no longer matters, and the only emotion or feeling that we should express is deep gratitude and appreciation for all that has been bestowed upon us.  If we get angry, disagree, dare to have a need outside of what we've been "given", or seen to cause conflict in any way, peopleare shocked and angered at our audacity. This is the world we live in every day, and it's not easy, but when these thoughts, feelings, and practices lead to subpar patient care the outcomes are bleak. 

Most people say, "oh, I would never let that happen to me, or a loved one", but you probably already have and you just don't realize it.

Medical advocacy. Two simple words. A simple phrase that can somehow feel big and intimidating, but at its core, it's just people. It's patients, providers, loved ones, even communities, using their voices to promote and protect the rights of patients. It's a wide array of activities that are focused on supporting and representing patients.

Sadly, most people don't understand or know how to medically advocate for themselves. It's a learned skill set that isn't instinctual. It can be tricky and typically requires situational adjustments. However, once you have this knowledge and you understand when and how to use it, the feeling of empowerment is amazing. 

You don't need a chronic illness or disability to need these skills. Knowing how to be an informed and active participant in your own healthcare helps you whether you're just starting your journey, you've been on this road for a while, or just want tolearn this powerful skill set. The most impactful tool in that skill set is your voice. 

In this episode we breakdown the 8 ways you can harness your superpower to medically advocate for yourself or your loved ones. 

The Cook Who Can't Eat podcast is brought to you by Holly at Well Blended Life. Find us at www.wellblendedlife.com or on your favorite social site.

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