Hi heartmoonshadow,
I'm a consultant and we are not all scary people!
. Seriously though I do understand where you are coming from, some of my colleagues are not known for their people skills and despite my background I still dislike seeing doctors when im the patient. I feel fobbed off sometimes too and don't always get the answers I need particularly if I have forgotten to mention my job I only hope my own patients don't feel like that though none of us do as good a job as we'd like all the time.
It annoys me that this is sometimes necessary as if you aren't able to talk to them that's a failure on their part not you being a wuss, but here are my tips for getting a proper discussion and your views taken seriously:
Speak to your midwife first about your concerns about what happened last time, what you want to happen now and also what the consultant is like. In particular explain that you are worried about the consultant just taking over and not having the opportunity to express your opinion and what you want. Hopefully you'll get some reassurance if you've got someone with reasonable people skills!
Ask her about which studies/ guidelines are relevant. It's good you've looked at NICE - if you look at the full guideline and the references then the details of many relevant papers will be there. Take some of these with you with the NICE guidelines on the top of the pile which you will hold prominently in the consultation! You sound like you have clear informed views already but it will help to make the point that you are someone who has read up on the issues and may need a different level of discussion than someone who hasn't.
Also write a list of questions/issues/concerns and let the consultant know you have done this as near to the start as you can so they can take this into account and you don't run out of time to ask them.
If you are not happy with an answer then ask questions like: why? What is the evidence for that? What are the alternatives? What are the risks? For each answer he/she gives, pursue it with further questions in this vein until you feel youve been given sufficient explanation.
A tricky problem that is good to keep in mind is this. He/she is human and therefore has human concerns like keeping the clinic running on time, not making a fool out of yourself in front of a patient and doing a good job. The best and worst consultants feel this but the worst are often unaware of these internal motivations and unfortunately just get defensive and consultoid if faced with a patient with a lot of printed out notes. You can counter this from the start by addressing their human concerns by saying something like 'I realise you have a very busy clinic so can I mention I've got a list of questions I'd like to discuss at some point today?'. Smile and be friendly to put them at their ease too. I know it sounds odd as you're the patient, you're the one who should be getting the reassurance and professional treatment and of course it is really up to them to ensure the consultation goes well for you. But believe me it is intimidating being faced with what could be an unsmiling, potentially angry patient with a massive list of well informed questions. For this reason I'd probably avoid starting off by saying 'I need to be induced at 37 weeks' and try something like 'After what happened in my last pregnancy i really feel I need/I really want'. The problem with the first approach is that at that point the doctor may not know much of your story and not know if this is entirely reasonable or a very bad idea. If faced with 'I'm having an induction' they then instinctively worry they might have a difficult job in front of them to persuade you out of something that - for all they know at this stage in the consultation - might be really unwise. Some will give up on the idea they can make this consultation go well before its started and try to take over which is not what you want.
However, being direct and clear about views is important. Taking someone with you and briefing them beforehand is helpful and definitely explain what happened to you last time and how that affects you emotionally as well. Showing emotion is fine too though ideally stop short of lying on the floor screaming :)
If all of this does not work, then there are a number of options open to you. Speak to your midwife again and say you weren't happy. See if you can get another appointment. You have the right to request a second opinion and if the advocacy service is any good then they can be useful.