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Daily Temptation - Elements of a Good Diagnosis
A good amount of my time is spent replying to visitors' inquiries posted at the WebMD Eye & Vision Disorders message board. It is a lot of fun helping others learn more about their eyes. Folks often visit with questions about recent diagnoses or proposed treatments. Many are anxious to know more about their symptoms and this anxiety can lead to impatience. They are hoping that the Internet will render an accurate diagnosis for them. In theory it sounds good; fast and free - does it get any better?
How tempting it is to bundle a visitor's findings and burp-off a diagnosis. Truth be told, it is often possible to discern the most likely cause for an individual eye problem, whether it be refractive, medical, or even a lid lump. Consider this - I've been listening to people's complaints in a dimly lit exam room for 25 years - is it really that different?
"Doc, why can't you just tell me if this scaly lid lump is cancer?!?"
First of all, I am not your physician. That's a pretty good reason right there. Sure, I meet folks at social gatherings who want me to look at their eyes, their eyelids, or their glasses. However well-intentioned, these folks are asking for substandard care. In other words, "Don't bother with a careful history and exam - just guess!"
Good medical care is more than answers (or guesses). It is the composite experience: conversation, examination, testing, treatment decisions, and more dialogue. Patients are denied good care if their problems are analyzed in a vacuum. The physician-patient relationship is more valuable to good health than any expensive scan.
Related Topics: Eye Problems Symptoms, Health Information Online
How tempting it is to bundle a visitor's findings and burp-off a diagnosis. Truth be told, it is often possible to discern the most likely cause for an individual eye problem, whether it be refractive, medical, or even a lid lump. Consider this - I've been listening to people's complaints in a dimly lit exam room for 25 years - is it really that different?
"Doc, why can't you just tell me if this scaly lid lump is cancer?!?"
First of all, I am not your physician. That's a pretty good reason right there. Sure, I meet folks at social gatherings who want me to look at their eyes, their eyelids, or their glasses. However well-intentioned, these folks are asking for substandard care. In other words, "Don't bother with a careful history and exam - just guess!"
Good medical care is more than answers (or guesses). It is the composite experience: conversation, examination, testing, treatment decisions, and more dialogue. Patients are denied good care if their problems are analyzed in a vacuum. The physician-patient relationship is more valuable to good health than any expensive scan.
Let me summarize by saying that the practice of rendering online diagnoses without the benefit of a comprehensive evaluation (history, examination, pertinent testing) is unhelpful, potentially harmful to the patient, and downright arrogant on the part of the provider. Last time I looked medicine was still considered a healing profession.
WebMD strives to provide the best information possible; see your doctor for the best care possible!
Related Topics: Eye Problems Symptoms, Health Information Online
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