One thing that gastroenterologists know about is stool. But, I’m not referring to that kind of stool in this post. Follow along . When we do a colonoscopy, for example, we are relying upon stool, or more accurately a stool, as in a three-legged stool. This metaphor illustrates that the three legs must be equally strong or the stool will not stand. The three pillars of support that a colonoscopist needs include: Knowledge Skill Judgment All 3 Legs Needed As the gastroenterologist guides the colonoscope along your long and winding colon, he may discover a lesion. He needs knowledge to identify the intruder. Is it a cancer or a benign polyp? Could it be Crohn’s disease or some other form of colitis? Is it a normal structure that simply appears atypical? Obviously, the more experienced the gastroenterologist is, the more likely he will be able to identify the abnormality. But, every gastroenterologist, regardless of experience, confronts lesions
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.