the Wrong Doctor Could Spell Disaster

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Press Release Source: Arthritis Diagnostic & Treatment Center

For Arthritis Patients the Wrong Doctor Could Spell Disaster

Wednesday April 14, 8:31 am ET

New Book 'Take Back Control of Your Arthritis: The 12 Critical Steps' Debuts

During National Arthritis Awareness Month in May

SAN ANTONIO, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- " Choosing the wrong physician may have

disastrous consequences for an arthritis patient, " says Dr. Rutstein, a

board-certified rheumatologist and author of the new book, " Take Back

Control of Your Arthritis: The 12 Critical Steps. "

Dr. Rutstein's book debuts during May, which is also National Arthritis

Awareness Month.

" Finding a Doctor You Can Trust " is the book's first chapter and first step

in Dr. Rutstein's 12-step " road-map, " which teaches arthritis sufferers how

to avoid " the wrong doctors " and better self-manage their rheumatic

condition.

How do you know if you are seeing the " the wrong doctor " ?

-- Dr. Rutstein suggests asking yourself the following questions the

next

time you see or call your doctor. If you answer yes to any of them,

you

may be seeing a physician who is not providing treatment that is in

your best interest.

-- Is your doctor unsympathetic when it comes to your complaints about

pain?

-- Does your doctor under-treat your pain, or do you feel your doctor

does

not believe your complaints of pain?

-- Is your doctor excessively busy or a " bad listener " ? Does he or she

seem uninterested in hearing your medical history or evaluating your

multiple complaints?

-- Is your doctor too rough when examining your joints and muscles? Do

you

sometimes leave the medical office in more pain than when you

arrived?

-- Finally, is your doctor a poor communicator? Is your doctor not

explaining your diagnosis and plans for treatment clearly and in

simple

and understandable terms?

" Patients should spend as much time picking the perfect doctor as they would

the perfect spouse, " cautions Dr. Rutstein. " After all, your physician is

the medical expert responsible for making life and death decisions

concerning your health. "

" Take Back Control of Your Arthritis: The 12 Critical Steps, " ($19.95, 229

pages) is available for sale at www.ArthritisMall.com or by calling toll

free . Multiple helpful video programs, including innovative

exercise videos, are also available for purchase at the site.

About Dr. E. Rutstein

Dr. Rutstein is the publisher of ArthritisCentral.com, one of the largest

patient information websites dealing with the subject of arthritis and

osteoporosis. A Spanish language version of the site may be accessed at

www.ArtritisCentral.com.

In 1978, Dr. Rutstein founded the Arthritis Diagnostic & Treatment Center in

San . He is currently the clinic's director. He is a fellow member of

the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians

and is also the Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas

Health Science Center at San . BestDoctors.com recently named Dr.

Rutstein as one of the " Best Doctors in America for 2003-2004. "

For interview requests, contact Dr. Rutstein's publicist Terri Lynn,

. Direct review copy requests to Tina Koenig,

tkoenig@...

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