The selection of your oncologist and healthcare team is one of the most important decisions you need to make and manage throughout your treatment for cancer. The effective treatment for cancer requires a considerable effort by both you the patient, and your physician. Forming a strong partnership with your physician, oncology nurse, oncology social worker, and other office or clinic staff will be crucial to managing the complex cancer journey. It might be helpful if you would read this statement and share it with your oncologist so that together you can discuss your treatment plan together.

As your Physician, I will make every effort to:

1. Provide you with the highest standard of care that is most likely to be beneficial to you.

2. Inform and educate you about your situation and the various treatment alternatives including clinical trials. How detailed an explanation is given will be dependent upon your specific desires.

3. Encourage you to ask questions about your illness and its treatment and answer your questions as clearly as possible. I will also attempt to answer questions asked by your family; however my primary responsibility is to you, and I will discuss your medical situation only with those people authorized by you.

4. Remain aware that all major decisions about the course of your care will be made by you. However, I will accept the responsibility for making certain decisions if you want me to.

5. Assist you in obtaining other professional opinions if you desire, or if I believe it to be in your best interest.

6. Relate to you as one competent adult to another, always attempting to consider your emotional, social, and psychological needs as well as your physical needs.

7. Spend a reasonable amount of time with you on each visit unless required by something urgent to do otherwise, and give you my undivided attention during that time.

8. Honor all appointment times unless required by something urgent to do otherwise.

9. Return phone calls as promptly as possible, especially those you indicate are urgent.

10. Make test results available promptly if you desire such reports.

11. Provide you with any information your request concerning my professional training, experience, treatment philosophy, and fees.

12. Provide prompt and accurate information to your insurance company to help ensure the best possible coverage for your care.

13. Respect your desire to try treatment that might not be conventionally accepted. However, I will give you my honest opinion about such unconventional treatments.

14. Maintain my active support and attention throughout the course of your illness and refer you to other support services that may be beneficial to your recovery.

As your patient, I will make every effort to:

1. Openly share my goals and objectives related to my cancer treatment.

2. Work actively with you to develop an effective treatment plan that represents the highest standard of care for my type and stage of cancer. I will comply with our agreed-upon treatment plan to the best of my ability.

3. Be as candid as possible with you and your staff about what I need and expect throughout treatment.

4. Inform you if I desire a second professional opinion about my diagnosis, treatment and recovery progress.

5. Inform you about all forms of therapy (conventional and unconventional) that I may be involved with. I agree to talk with you before I start any therapies or health practices that are not prescribed by you.

6. With your help, seek out the emotional, social, practical and spiritual support I may need to help me make the most out of my cancer treatment.

7. Honor all appointment times unless required by something urgent to do otherwise.

8. Be as considerate as possible of your need to adhere to a schedule to see other patients.

9. Come prepared to my appointments with a list of questions and concerns to discuss with you or your nurse.

10. Work with my insurance company to provide all information and required paperwork to ensure optimal coverage of my care.

11. Make all phone calls to you during office hours. I will call on nights and weekends only when absolutely necessary.

12. Coordinate the requests of my family and confidants, so that you do not have to answer the same questions about me to several different persons that I have approved for communication.

Adapted from Benjamin, H., The Wellness Community Guide to Fighting for Recovery from Cancer, 1995.