How to Answer: What would you do if your mother decided to rely only on alternative medicine to treat a critical illness?
25. What would you do if your mother decided to rely only on alternative medicine to treat a critical illness?
How to Answer
The way you approach a patient about alternative medical therapies, and the way you would approach your parent may be the same - or entirely different. Whatever your thoughts on alternative treatments, the panel wants to see that you have an educated approach versus a biased opinion. Show that you can be collaborative without dropping your scientific ways but also remaining open to new ideas.
Answer Example
"If my mother wanted to treat a critical illness using alternative medicine, I would first ask how she came to her conclusion. I would ask what particular therapies she was interested in and how much research she has conducted. Many people believe that because a treatment is natural, it can do no harm, so it would be important to me that I dispell that belief as much as possible. Mainly, I would not be judgemental and would be sure to come from a respectful point of view. I would want my mother to receive honest advice, whether that advice comes from another Ph.D. or me. If she were adamant about these alternative therapies, I would offer to go with her to a naturopathic practitioner where we could find a compromise of some sort - where traditional and non-traditional treatments could meet."