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Doctor 1: "Kids have all kinds of stomach problems all the time. The parents always say it's dairy or gluten. The parents don't know anything, so I'm going to i
by rebuilder 5y ago
Doctor 1: "Kids have all kinds of stomach problems all the time. The parents always say it's dairy or gluten. The parents don't know anything, so I'm going to ignore them."
Doctor 2: "Kids have all kinds of stomach problems all the time. The parents always say it's dairy or gluten. This is probably going to go away on its own, but the parents will keep insisting I do some thing until it does. I will tell them they are on the right track and send them off. "
Doctors have to play a whole metagame beyond just trying to figure out what might be causing the symptoms their patients are presenting with.
- nitrogen 5y agoDoctors have to play a whole metagame I really detest this idea that blatant manipulation is necessary from people we are supposed to be able trust. How about this instead, where the doctor provides information and a plan of action instead of manipulation: Doctor 3: "Stomach problems are common, they may or may not be caused by the most popular triggers, and they might go away on their own by coincidence. Here's the decision tree we can follow, which will let us know if we need to do more..."
- verall 5y agoPlenty of doctors do explain all of this, but people hear what they want: did the doc affirm or contest my theory? Did they "do anything"? (recommend surgery, prescription, diet, etc)
- nitrogen 5y agoI wonder if it would help if the plan of action was always conveyed in written form, as well as verbal.