Fran Drescher urges patients ask questions

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 20 (UPI) -- U.S. TV and movie star Fran Drescher is urging patients in to ask their health professionals questions.

Drescher, a uterine cancer survivor and health advocate, is spokeswoman for the campaign by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Ad Council to encourage patients to ask questions.

"I am an eight-year cancer survivor because I spoke up and continued to ask questions of my doctors, which led to my diagnosis," Drescher said in a statement.

A series of national public service advertisements, designed to encourage consumers to get involved in their healthcare by knowing and asking appropriate questions when visiting their doctor or other clinicians, was announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' AHRQ with The Advertising Council.

The television, radio, print, outdoor and Web ads direct patients to learn 10 questions everyone should think about asking a doctor.

Patients who ask questions receive better quality healthcare and get better results, Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy of AHRQ says.

"Asking your doctor or other clinicians questions about why you need a particular medical test, the potential side effects and the benefits and risks of those procedures will help you make appropriate medical decisions," Clancy says.

The Web site, http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer, lists the 10 questions every patient should think about asking when visiting their doctor or other clinicians.