MSNBC.com ran a piece encouraging patients to question their doctor’s diagnosis:
Symptoms of one condition can mimic those of another, leading to treatment that is ineffective at best and that may allow the real problem to get worse. Don’t be fooled. Sleuth out what’s actually making you sick so you can find the right remedy and feel better fast.
While that’s true, remember that the simplest, initial diagnoses are correct much of the time. Not all hoof beats are zebras.
Internist Matthew Mintz says that being “your own detective is an unwise suggestion,” and gives more practical tips for patients to use.
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{ 1 comment }
I disagree with Matthew Mintz, for the most part. If I had followed his advice,I would be dead now. There are a lot of zebras out there that die because of this attitude, I believe. Martha comes to mind.
Dr. Mintz does say “the notion that your doctor has no clue…is an unwise suggestion”. That is true sometimes. It is not true other times and even my PCP admitted that to me. Sometimes one’s PCP does NOT have a clue.
And communication is often tough with a hurried doctor. How many times is the patient supposed to call the doctor to say “I’m not getting better”?
Dr. Mintz, I’m sure your advice is good for a lot of folks, but there are a lot of us out here who would not be here if we had followed it.
Regards…
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