5 ms·

> Whether or not to drop $400 is not a "high-stakes medical decision". This just feels out-of-touch. $400 on a medical decision is a MASSIVE choice for many pe

by notamy 5y ago

> Whether or not to drop $400 is not a "high-stakes medical decision". This just feels out-of-touch. $400 on a medical decision is a MASSIVE choice for many people -- it could be the difference between whether not they eat.

jcranberry 5y ago
It could be a high stakes decision but perhaps not necessarily a high stakes medical decision?
- gumby 5y ago
  The point is that by framing it as a medical decision they change the calculation, pushing it ahead of other important things the patient might spend on.
- Karawebnetwork 5y ago
  It's still a laser focused at your gums based on limited studies. What if this ends up creating health issues? Looking at some studies on risks for that procedure, there's small issues like itching sensations that last for days but also more serious issues like badly fitted eye protection that could potentially end up causing blindness. All medical decisions are high stakes, even if they don't end up working. Even without effects and side effects, the confidence from the laser could mean the author stops flossing for example. Think sugar pills and homeopathy. If you end up trusting that the useless pill prevents cancer, you might stop going to your cancer screening appointments. It can also become very costly if the procedure is then added to all other appointments. In an economy 64% of the population lives paycheck to paycheck, this can open a can of worms when presented as a mandatory (or strongly encouraged) procedure.
petesergeant 5y ago
I guess I tend to consider "high-stakes" in the context of medicine to mean life-or-death, and not prophylactic pre-gingivitis treatments.
- mort96 5y ago
  Ok it's not life or death so it's not high-stakes to you, but it's about whether to get treatment to prevent your teeth from falling out. Whether or not to ignore your doctor's suggested treatment for that is certainly something I'd consider high stakes.

by notamy 5y ago

jcranberry 5y ago

It could be a high stakes decision but perhaps not necessarily a high stakes medical decision?

gumby 5y ago
The point is that by framing it as a medical decision they change the calculation, pushing it ahead of other important things the patient might spend on.
Karawebnetwork 5y ago
It's still a laser focused at your gums based on limited studies. What if this ends up creating health issues? Looking at some studies on risks for that procedure, there's small issues like itching sensations that last for days but also more serious issues like badly fitted eye protection that could potentially end up causing blindness. All medical decisions are high stakes, even if they don't end up working. Even without effects and side effects, the confidence from the laser could mean the author stops flossing for example. Think sugar pills and homeopathy. If you end up trusting that the useless pill prevents cancer, you might stop going to your cancer screening appointments. It can also become very costly if the procedure is then added to all other appointments. In an economy 64% of the population lives paycheck to paycheck, this can open a can of worms when presented as a mandatory (or strongly encouraged) procedure.

petesergeant 5y ago

I guess I tend to consider "high-stakes" in the context of medicine to mean life-or-death, and not prophylactic pre-gingivitis treatments.

mort96 5y ago
Ok it's not life or death so it's not high-stakes to you, but it's about whether to get treatment to prevent your teeth from falling out. Whether or not to ignore your doctor's suggested treatment for that is certainly something I'd consider high stakes.