title: Information is the key to patient empowerment.
abstract: Mr. Kane's paper examines the role of patients to ensure that they have both the knowledge and power to direct their health care choices. The evolving health care market place is discussed to emphasize the increased importance of individual involvement in health decision making. A checklist sets forth questions which a patient should ask of herself and of her provider before entering into health care decisions.
authors.affiliation: Illinois State Medical Society, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Robert John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kane
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003219:Confidentiality; D003657:Decision Making; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020408:Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D033283:Patient Access to Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011209:Power, Psychological; D014481:United States; D014483:United States Dept. of Health and Human Services