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CONSULTATION TIPS
Consultation Tips: Welcome
1. Dress like you want to be taken seriously.
Yes, it is frustrating that people make assumptions about you based upon your appearance.
The people around you subconsciously and consciously make judgements about you all the time and, like it or not, the way you dress has an impact on what people think of you.
An APS study titled Making Up Your Mind After a 100-Ms Exposure to a Face concluded that, "Judgments made after a 100-ms exposure correlated highly with judgments made in the absence of time constraints." This means that your doctor has a good chance of making their mind up about you before you're even able to say hello.
Fortunately, you can use that first impression to your advantage - couple your customized Sterilization Binder with a put-together appearance and it will be hard for a doctor to dismiss you.
Consultation Tips: Quote
DRESS LIKE THIS → NOT LIKE THIS
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Consultation Tips: Portfolio
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Consultation Tips: About
2. Speak in a concise, professional manner.
Recognize that your spoken words have the same, if not more power than the words written down in your binder.
If your experience is anything like mine, your doctor will spend the majority of the consultation talking with you and asking questions - little time will be spent actually skimming through your binder. This means that the path to approval is paved more-so by what you say than by what you write.
It is one thing to have beautifully crafted arguments and retorts to every question you could think of written down neatly in your binder. It is another to convey those same sentiments out loud to a stranger who holds the future of your reproductive system in their hands.
Since you know yourself best, it is up to you to find the best way to prepare for this conversation. Some ideas include practicing in front of a mirror, role-playing with a friend, and reading important sections of your binder out loud.
If your doctor dismisses you and your binder despite such avid preparation, chalk up the experience to a great practice session and ask to be referred to a doctor who will take your inquiry seriously. Then let your current doctor know precisely why you will no longer be returning as a patient.
Consultation Tips: Quote
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Consultation Tips: About
3. Remember that your doctor works for you.
As a patient voluntarily seeking sterilization services, it is important to remember that you are in charge. As long as your requests are legal and informed, it is your right as an autonomous adult to make permanent healthcare decisions about your reproductive system.
If you expect a lot of pushback from your doctor, it may be helpful to convey your entire inquiry in a way that says: this is not up for discussion.
A good way to drive this point home is to stress that your mind is already made up about sterilization and any reasons you give are justifications after-the-fact. The bottom line is that you do not and never will want to be pregnant.
Ensure your doctor that, with or without their help, you will find a way to get your requested elective procedure. Their only options are to get on board or to get out of your way.
If your doctor dismisses you despite being presented with your informed consent, end the conversation and ask to be referred to a doctor who will take your inquiry seriously. Then let your current doctor know precisely why you will no longer be returning as a patient.
Consultation Tips: Quote
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