Why we should not comment on Hilliary ’ s “ pneumonia ” diagnosis

Often, as physicians, friends and families ask us about diagnoses and prognoses.  We usually do not have adequate information to opine, yet we feel pressure to comment. As I perused twitter yesterday, read newspaper articles this morning, and listened to commentary over the past 24 hours, I believe that we do not know enough to provide any commentary. What does a diagnosis of “pneumonia” really mean?  Are we considering community acquired pneumonia? Questions that I would want to have answered: A careful history of her symptoms – when did they start, is her cough productive, does she have a fever, any rigors or drenching night sweats? Travel history CXR Lab results Physical examination Without such information how can we comment?  I refuse to provide a differential diagnosis, but I know that pneumonia is not specific enough. Yet I heard academic physicians opine today;  I read tweets with opinions; I read newspaper speculations. We do not know enough to comment, and then to give opinions is (at least in my opinion) unprofessional.  We should pose the questions above, and without answers just state that we do not know enough to comment. Let me repeat that – we do not know enough and any commentary that we would provide is uniformed! I hope that she will listen to her physician’s advice.  Patients who ignore such advice  often have more complicated disease courses than those who listen.
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs