Do doctors understand test results?

[sazzyb]

Interesting article on the BBC site today. Do doctors understand test results?

Errr... in short

'"A physician is someone who can help you but also someone you need to

challenge in order to get the best treatment."

bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-281...

[gabkad]

sazzyb, doctors don't learn stats and they don't think like scientists. In fact, I wonder about their critical thinking faculties. Maybe they are burned out or something. Or they learn to do well on exams and promptly forget basic principles.

The best doctor who treated my thyroid problem correctly told me that the straight A students make the worst doctors because they just memorize everything without critical thought. The B+ students make better GPs because they question things, are rebellious and figure things out. I've been through enough experiences with doctors that what he told me has really stuck with me. He was a great diagnostician. First thing he said to me "you have a goitre. Do you know that you have a goitre?" I wasn't even his patient. Other doctors I've seen never saw the goitre but it's really clear in photographs. So what are they not seeing? Not noticing? I guess my goitre wasn't a picture on a multiple choice exam.

[sazzyb in reply to gabkad]

Good post gabkad, I'd be in the B+ camp, I'm a ferret!