I am a parsimonious practitioner. While I can’t cite statistics, I strongly suspect that I order fewer laboratory studies, prescribe fewer drugs and order fewer diagnostic tests than do my peers. Medical minimalism has always been my medical world view. This can feel a bit lonely at times in a profession that is rife with over-diagnosis and over-treatment. I am not suggesting that my approach is the only reasonable medical approach, only that it’s the style that I’m most comfortable with. All of us should consider the philosophy of the professionals we engage. And the professionals need to gauge the goals and risk tolerance of those they serve. These relationships may need to enter into negotiations from time to time in order to agree on which pathway to pursue. Physicians, judges, law enforcement professionals, teachers and others are not homogenous philosophically. While folks may (hopefully) agree on the facts, the interpretations may differ. Consider two different
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.