Many times over the years, I have witnessed the following scenario in my exam room. Here’s the set up of this one act play. I’m seated at my desktop computer. The patient is seated before me. The patient’s daughter is seated next to her mother. Characters Elderly patient Attentive daughter The doctor Curtain's Up Scene I A patient comes to see me in the office with medical issues that strongly suggest that a colonoscopy should be performed. As an aside, it is not my practice style to issue a colonoscopy edict, but rather to present the patient with available options, which should always include no testing as an alternative. I may at that point strongly urge that the patient accept my colonoscopy recommendation, but at least the patient then knows the options with their respective advantages and drawbacks. [Reader aside: Examples of medical issues that lead most gastroenterologists and physicians to advise colonoscopy include: Rectal bleeding Ch
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.