Despite the "wonders" of modern medicine, being misdiagnosed isn't rare. About 15 percent of patients experience an incorrect diagnosis, according to the article "Why Doctors Make Mistakes," in the September and October issue of The AARP Magazine. Serious harm or death could befall half of these patients.
The article explains that doctors can make mistakes due to three kinds of faulty thinking:
- Anchoring. The doctor goes with the first symptom, physical finding, or laboratory abnormality.
- Availability. The doctor assumes that a prior experience explains the new situation.
- Attribution. The doctor uses a stereotype and attributes symptoms it.
What can baby boomers do to help prevent medical mistakes from these types of thought processes?
"Why Doctors Make Mistakes" suggests consumers ask these three questions:
- What else could it be?
- Could two things be going on to explain my symptoms?
- Is there anything in my history, physical examination, laboratory findings, or other tests that seems not to fit with your working diagnosis?
Remember, it's important for optimal health to be an aware, informed boomer consumer.
I do believe we think doctors are infallible..However it is easy to see why mistakes are made…We are all different, and a symptom in one person could mean something different in another. So the best advice… with tongue in cheek. work on your own health in all ways you know …and we get a lot of advice in that department. author of For Kids 59.99& Over
Hi Carol,
It’s a good idea to work on your health in many ways. There’s so much information available to consumers these days; it pays to research health issues for yourself, as you work with professional health care providers.
Rita