This is pretty accurate:
To cover their own butts, doctors sometimes take a needless trip up yours. A nationwide sample of “surveillance” colonoscopies–follow-up procedures done after polyps are removed–found that up to 50 percent of doctors recommended these tests unnecessarily. This better-safe-than-sorry mindset keeps docs safe against lawsuits, and isn’t limited to colonoscopies.Get the truth: Watch out for the most overused procedures: MRIs and CT scans, echocardiograms, and stress tests all scored high in a survey of health insurers. “When your doctor does make a recommendation that seems aggressive, ask why, and where you fit in the assigned guidelines,” says Pauline Mysliwiec, M.D., author of the colonoscopy study.
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{ 9 comments }
“When your doctor does make a recommendation that seems aggressive, ask why, and where you fit in the assigned guidelines,”
As doctors, we can also be honest with the patients. I will often tell a patient that I don’t think they need a test, but in the current medico-legal climate, I’m forced to recommend it. Patients are often grateful when you let them know the test is simply for CYA.
“Patients are often grateful when you let them know the test is simply for CYA”
You mean you they are grateful for mechanical sodomy that you attribute to Sodomites!?
“You mean you they are grateful for mechanical sodomy that you attribute to Sodomites!?”
No, they are relieved there is a low likelihood of the disease they are worried about, and understanding of the molesation of the medical profession by the human piece of shit sodomites. If you’re a doc, try this once: Tell your patient,
“I don’t think you have (type in Disease Here), But I can’t give you a 100% guarantee. In the current medic0-legal climate I can’t just discharge you. So I’m going to order this test, and it’s up to you if you want to do it. Unfortunately, if you don’t I have to have you sign a piece of paper to satisfy the lawyers.”
If it seems aggresive – consult an attorney and then sue. If medicaid is footing the bill – file a complaint for suspected fraud.
“If it seems aggresive – consult an attorney and then sue.”
As far as I know, they have never won a negligence suit for over-testing, as long as the patient consents to the testing. This type of successull suit would really screw up the playing field.
Wouldn’t it though? Physicians would actually have to use good clinical judgement instead of not enough testing and way too much testing.
“Wouldn’t it though? Physicians would actually have to use good clinical judgement instead of not enough testing and way too much testing.”
That is fine….except that even in the best hands the History will only give you the diagnosis 70% of the time, physical exam adds 10% to that. That’s 80%. Completely unacceptable in sue crazy America. Thus we spend billions practicing Defensive Medicine. Not my decision.
“I don’t think you have (type in Disease Here), But I can’t give you a 100% guarantee. In the current medic0-legal climate I can’t just discharge you. So I’m going to order this test, and it’s up to you if you want to do it. Unfortunately, if you don’t I have to have you sign a piece of paper to satisfy the lawyers.”
I would like it if all doctors clearly said that. Because otherwise, I don’t really know if a test is a CYA and that refusing a test I don’t really want I am endangering my health. Not to mention that because the doctor wants to test me for X, my first thought is “my doctor thinks I may have X”. If X is serious enough it causes me considerable anxiety which is not really good for me.
“Basically, you have abdicated your responsibility as a physician. But probably because you weren’t that good at it in the first place.”
This from someone who abdicated his responsibilities as a human being by suing peopel for a living when bad outcomes occur. Get a life, then evaluate someone elses.
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