TV doctor Amir Khan has shared five things patients should never feel ashamed to discuss during a GP appointment, reassuring viewers that doctors do not judge.
Dr Khan, a familiar face on ITV's Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, regularly posts health advice on social media. In a recent TikTok video, he detailed issues patients often avoid raising because they fear being judged or disappointing their doctor.
Opening the video, Dr Khan said: "Guys, here are things that people don't tell me as their GP because they think I might judge them or be disappointed in them." He added: "Well, let me take that worry off your plate - I'm never disappointed. I never judge."
Stopping medication and financial struggles
At the top of his list is being upfront if you have stopped taking a particular medication. "Tell me, I need to know," he said. "Perhaps you are experiencing side effects, perhaps you were concerned about potential side effects, or perhaps remembering to take it daily proved more challenging than anticipated."
He warned that if a doctor believes a patient is taking medication when they are not, treatment plans could be changed based on wrong information. "I don't mind. Just tell me, honestly, because if I think you're taking it and it isn't helping, we could end up changing your whole treatment plan based on the wrong information."
Second on his list is being upfront about struggling to pay for medication or getting to essential appointments. "This is really common," he stated.
"Whether that's a prescription charge for a cream or a tablet, getting to an appointment with transport, the food that someone's told you will help change your metabolic long term condition, okay, tell me. If you can't do it, you can't do it. That's absolutely fine. Tell me what's manageable and we will make a plan we can actually use around you."
Jargon, substance use and fears about diagnoses
For number three, Dr Khan acknowledged that seeing a doctor can involve "an entirely unnecessary amount of jargon and vocab" which can leave patients baffled. "We try our best, and sometimes, I'm sure I explain things badly, that is just what can happen," he said. "But that's my fault. So you can say 'Amir, I absolutely have no idea what you're talking about. Could you tell me again, please?' And you won't be the first person to say that."
Dr Khan also stressed that patients should not fear judgement for using alcohol, drugs, or other substances to cope with a condition, as these can affect health and interact with treatment. "Whether it's alcohol, drugs, someone else's tablets maybe, these things can affect your health and interact with any treatment I want to suggest," he stated. "So I need to know so I can help you safely. Not gonna judge. I'm really not. You just deserve care, whatever you're struggling with."
Finally, he encouraged patients to be candid about worries regarding potential diagnoses, even if those fears prove baseless. "You might have come in about a headache, but someone has told you 'oh, it could be a brain tumour' and you've put off an appointment because you're scared of what we might find," he said.
"Tell me that. Tell me what you're worried about, because I could explain my assessment and still leave you carrying the very fear you came in with because we haven't addressed your fears. You know, that's the whole point - you tell me what you're worried about and we'll work it out together. That is all I'm going to do."
Wrapping up, he said: "So remember, when you come into a doctor's appointment, I don't need to be impressed. Just tell me what you need to tell me. I will not judge. I will only do my best to look after you. I promise."
