The Problem to Be Solved

Every day, patients are handed prescriptions for medications that carry serious and sometimes life-altering risks—without ever being given the full story. Black Box Warnings go unread, side effects are glossed over, and critical information about long-term consequences remains hidden behind a wall of medical jargon.

The result? At best, patients are left vulnerable, uninformed, and at risk of harm from treatments they never had the chance to fully understand or consent to. At worst, some patients suffer permanent damage and often ask themselves — how did I not know this was even a risk?

But the problem doesn’t end there. Across a lifetime of healthcare experiences, many individuals are missing out on crucial education that could empower them to make informed decisions at every stage. From the time we’re first told to consider contraception without also being taught about our own fertility, to the moment we’re faced with life-altering decisions about chronic disease management while being gaslit to believe it’s “all in our heads,” to submitting to major surgeries out of desperation for relief, opportunities to fully understand the implications of a diagnosis, the risks of a medication, or the potential outcomes of a treatment plan are missed. Why? Because healthcare has long operated under a model where information is filtered, simplified, or withheld. Doctors prescribe. Patients comply. The burden to ask questions, to understand complex medical literature, or to find answers on our own has been placed squarely on the shoulders of the very people who deserve clear, transparent guidance: us, the patients.

We are facing a crisis of communication in healthcare, one where knowledge isn’t shared equally, and the consequences of these gaps in understanding can be devastating. Dangerous medications, unnecessary procedures, and missed early interventions are just the tip of the iceberg.

At The Empowered Choice Coalition, we believe this is flat out unacceptable. We believe that healthcare should be centered around you, the patient. That means not only having access to clear, understandable information, but also receiving the education necessary to help you make informed decisions across your entire life span. From the early reproductive years through the complexities of aging, every individual deserves to know all their options, the risks and benefits of every choice, and the data that supports or challenges their care.

The problem is bigger than a lack of information—it’s about a lack of empowerment. And we’re here to change that. Together, we can build a future where patients never have to ask, “Why wasn’t I told?”