Patient Advocacy & Life-Saving Questions: Dr. Donese Worden | Ep22

Dr. Denise Worden already understood the importance of patient advocacy, but one hospital experience made it impossible to ignore just how critical it is.While advocating for her 92-year-old father in the hospital, she caught seven critical mistakes that could have cost him his life. Medications that had been discontinued were about to be administered. Vital details were missing from his chart. And in just 30 minutes away from his bedside, something went wrong.In this episode of The Rock Bottom Podcast, Dr. Worden shares her journey from early-career betrayal and a lawsuit that shook her trust, to becoming a fierce advocate for patients navigating a complex and often overwhelmed healthcare system. She introduces her philosophy of “Dare to Doubt,” a call to trust your intuition, ask better questions, and take an active role in your care.From real hospital scenarios to practical ways you can protect yourself or a loved one, this conversation is a powerful reminder: sometimes the most important voice in the room is yours.Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before making changes to your health routine.Chapters00:00 Coming Up This Episode 00:23 Podcast Intro: Dr. Denise Worden01:07 Interview Begins02:54 Perspective from Treating Serious Illness04:05 “Dare to Doubt” and Her Mother’s Story06:20 Advocating for Her 92-Year-Old Father07:03 The 7 Mistakes That Could Have Been Fatal07:43 How Medical Errors Actually Happen09:23 How to Speak Up and Ask the Right Questions11:30 Practical Patient Advocacy Tips16:20 Learning to Trust Your Intuition20:02 Applying This to Cancer and Treatment Decisions30:48 What Actually Matters Most for Healing48:05 Sponsor + OutroPresented by: @JigsawHealthTVSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zpj6O04BDznHju7zG8ErR?si=bc40afcbe5b145c1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rock-bottom-podcast/id1809787645Do you have a health horror story that inspires? Apply to be a guest on the podcast:https://forms.gle/aqwJVZXAFFjnyTyS8