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What should I ask my doctor if I or a loved one has a severe brain injury?

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine
Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine
answer
The most important things to ask your doctor if a loved one has a severe brain injury depend on the values of your family. Some of the more important questions to ask may be about the prognosis of injury, such as what kind of recovery they expect the patient to have and what they expect the patient's functional ability to be after full recovery.

However, more important than any specific question you might ask your doctor is to make sure that all family members and loved ones, as well as the patient, understand the answers that the doctor is giving them. After a severe brain injury, there are a lot of medical complications, and these problems may be hard to understand. You should always make sure that if you do not understand what your doctor is saying that you ask them to explain, give written handouts or resources or that they repeat the information until everyone involved feels comfortable with what is happening.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.