Diagnostic errors

The BBC series Sherlock is brilliant.  In episode 2 (called the Blind Banker) Sherlock enters a crime scene, and hears a rookie detective make pronouncements about a crime.  He quietly asks a few questions about inconsistencies, but the rookie detective is undeterred.  In true Sherlock fashion, he states (in a condescending tone) – “You have a solution that you like, but you are choosing to ignore anything that you see that doesn’t comply with it.” Diagnostic errors occur in medicine and in other aspects of life.  As I read the post-mortems on the election coverage, this quote comes to my mind.  When I consider my own diagnostic errors, this quote looms large.  When I change an existing incorrect diagnosis, the quote resonates. Diagnostic errors are not a simple as this quote, but an amazing number of errors do fit this quote. Read it and re-read it.  Try to remain humble about your diagnostic prowess.  We all make diagnostic errors.  We all focus on our favored diagnosis, and ignore contrary or inconvenient data.  We must train ourselves to worry about these red flags.  If we do not, our patients suffer.
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs