I spent a lot of time thinking about what to write you today. My idea is advocacy.
Advocacy comes in lots of forms.
To be an advocate for self, someone, a cause, or an idea is to be a supporter.
The other day I advocated for myself with a cardiologist. The test result we discussed showed that I do not have solid calcium in my arteries — that’s a good thing. However, it showed another interesting find. The machine that performed the calcium test is not calibrated to look at much beyond calcium; however it did and that output got reported on.
I asked the cardiologist about that finding and was told, “it’s probably nothing.” I responded that if it’s nothing, and if the machine is not calibrated for that type of output, then did it make a mistake? Did a radiologist make a mistake in highlighting that output on their report? Why make a claim on data that’s not calibrated for making that claim in the first place?
If I annoyed the cardiologist, they were nice enough not to show it. I said the hard part out loud for them, “if we’re making decisions based on the data before us, and if that data is not calibrated properly, I don’t see how we can make effective decisions.”
The story ends with the cardiologist and I hypothesizing the likely nothing burger and we have a method for disproving that hypothesis through test. I’m happy.
I also don’t believe I’m difficult. And while I don’t always accept or participate readily in norms for communicating with authority, I genuinely care about working with people to find the most correct answer — the truth, however it may be defined.
For me, being the advocate for the cause that is me involved defying the norm and demanding a more rigorous decision process. I got a solid output.
For you, if you could advocate more for yourself, consider it.
