True that many patients do not report their symptoms properly-this could be due their attitude ‘there is nothing wrong,it will go away-I am scared what the doc will do’-some may be genuinely not aware of symptoms.
It is the duty of the Doctor to check the patient thoroughly and find if something is wrong.
( I am reminded of a quip in Tamil movie-the Doc
asks the patient’What is your problem”
Patient” you are the doctor ,you find out.’
Fact is many doctors do not read pulse, use Stethescopes ,call for
patient History in person,family history of ailments.They cursorily
ask for symptoms and straight away prescribe medicines without even
asking for contraindications of the drug on the patients. Or worse
still, refer to multitude of tests to be run through.
Doctors must presume that the patient is illiterate in matters of
Health , check them thoroughly , physically examine them , ask for
detailed Family history of ailments and interact with patients
patiently.As I see it, it would take take a minimum of 20 minutes for
this procedure.Tell me, how many doctors spend such time with
patients?
Lure of money makes them hurry through appointments.Many Doctors are
‘hangers on’ to the patients, as in the case of Michael Jackson,who
prescribe what the patient wants and not what he needs.
Patients are also responsible in that they respect the Doctor who
refer them to fancy tests and costly medicines.They should remember
that costly tests/medicines need not be the best.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/whos-to-blame-for-a-missed-diagnosis/?apage=3#comments
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