If your doctor doesn’t know what’s wrong, she should tell you what further tests are necessary to get a clear diagnosis. She should also advise you of the implications of the illness or condition.
If, for example, your child has an acute attack of sinusitis or a middle-ear infection, your doctor should tell you your child may need antibiotics to eradicate it completely.
On the other hand, she should not give you medicine if she’s sure there’s nothing wrong.
She would be wrong to give you something simply because you have gone to the surgery expecting to be treated. Respect her for not being pressured into giving you a prescription.
That said, she should answer all your questions – so persist until you are completely satisfied.
If medicine is required, the doctor should give you as much information as possible about what she has prescribed.
She should also tell you whether to give it before or after a meal, whether there may be any side-effects, whether there are any special precautions to take and warn you about possible complications and danger signs to look out for.