When Doctors Don't Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests
All doctors are taught the art (and value) of obtaining a thorough medical history from their patients. An estimated 90 percent of diagnoses can be made from the history of illness alone. Increasingly, though, many doctors are paying less attention to these stories of sickness. Algorithms and clinical pathways, time constraints, fear of misdiagnosing a serious illness, and an increased reliance on technology have often relegated conversations between physicians and patients into brief interrogations. Physician-authors Wen and Kosowsky utilize true tales of patients treated in the emergency room to illustrate “how medicine has morphed from thoughtful engagement between doctors and patients to cookie-cutter recipes that regard all individuals alike.” The authors argue that such a cookbook methodology can be hazardous. They recommend “an individualized, patient-centered approach to diagnosis” that enhances patient comprehension, lowers the chance of malpractice lawsuits, and cuts down on the excessive use of tests such as CT scans. Sound suggestions for improving diagnosis abound. For patients, become more active participants in the process. For physicians, take time and listen. --Tony Miksanek