Misdiagnosis
Show 1355: Uncovering the Shocking Dangers of Mi…
When you develop a health problem with symptoms that trouble you, the first step is to find out what it is. Diagnosis may be the most basic task a doctor or other healthcare provider undertakes. That …
Are You Prepared to Be Misdiagnosed in the ER?
When people think they might be having a heart attack, a stroke or some other really serious health event, they head for the nearest emergency room. Such patients are often in pain, anxious, afraid an…
Will Medical Mistakes Kill You or Someone You Lo…
Are medical mistakes common? A study from Johns Hopkins University titled "Medical Error--The Third Leading Cause of Death in the US" suggests that the answer to the question about medical mistakes is…
Show 1207: Can You Use Your Patient Portal for B…
Staying at home and maintaining safe physical distance means that some primary care practices are not functioning normally during the pandemic. However, you may still want to connect with your doctor.…
Show 1186: What Happens When Doctors Make Diagno…
When you get sick, you need a diagnosis. If the diagnosis is wrong, the treatment won’t be appropriate. What happens when doctors make diagnostic errors? We talk with a leader in the Society to Impr…
Will a Crowded Emergency Room Interfere with You…
Have you ever had to wait for hours to be seen in an emergency room? Who hasn’t? A Crowded Emergency Room May Mean Doctors Miss Information: A new study shows, unsurprisingly, that care may be compr…
Diagnostic Errors with Potentially Serious Conse…
Diagnostic error may be far more common than most people think. A new study estimates that up to 12 million Americans don't get the correct diagnosis when they visit their doctors' offices. The resear…
Misdiagnoses Result in Malpractice Claims
Malpractice claims are often associated with mistakes or harm suffered in the hospital. But in Massachusetts, and probably elsewhere, malpractice claims in primary care are becoming more important. Ne…
Even Doctors Who Flunked Tests Were Confident Ab…
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation upon which all treatment rests. A doctor cannot prescribe the right medicine or procedure unless she knows what is wrong with her patient. That is why the results …
Some Physicians Are Overconfident about Their Di…
Accurate diagnoses are crucial for good medical care. New research shows, however, that doctors are not as good as they think at making accurate diagnoses. There is also a disturbing disconnect betwee…
Diagnostic Blunders and Malpractice Claims
Diagnostic mistakes are a leading cause of malpractice claims and payouts. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed data from 25 years of malpractice claims and concluded,…
Patient Takes Action on Difficult Diagnosis
I want to share my story with you because my recent medical journey began with listening to your radio show. Last April I heard your episode regarding advancements in the treatment of thyroid conditio…
Misdiagnosis Harms or Kills Patients
Diagnostic errors made in hospitals are responsible for up to 80,000 deaths every year. Now a study in JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrates that diagnostic errors are also a serious problem in outpatie…
Is That Test Necessary?
Many familiar medical tests and procedures may be unnecessary. When patients are exposed to these practices just because they are customary, health care costs and possible risks rise. That's the messa…
Patients Afraid to Disagree with Doctors
No sensible person would buy a new car based on the salesman's say-so alone. Most people do some homework, check ratings and mileage and look under the hood. When the time comes to do the deal, buyers…
Missed Diagnoses in the ICU
Very sick patients often land in the intensive care unit of a hospital so they can be carefully monitored minute by minute by highly specialized health care providers. A study from Johns Hopkins now e…
Second Opinions Save Lives
Second opinions have become an accepted part of medical practice. Faced with uncertainty about a diagnosis or complex treatment, patients are often encouraged to get another perspective. Many insuranc…
Vitamin D Tests Not Accurate
Research on vitamin D and its importance to health has convinced many doctors to order blood tests for this vitamin. It is now one of the most frequently ordered tests in the US. Unfortunately, a new …
Routine PSA Tests Discouraged
The United States Preventive Services Task Force has officially recommended against the routine use of the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer. PSA, which stands for prostate specific antigen is a …
Be Wary of Diagnostic Error
Hospitals can be dangerous places. Although we certainly need their treatments at times, we also need to be aware of ways that hospital health care can go awry. One visitor shared this sad story: Perh…
Life-Threatening Blood Clot Misdiagnosed
Q. My 60-year-old girlfriend had sudden severe lower back pain and leg pain and swelling. She was diagnosed with sciatica by a doctor in the emergency room and sent home with Valium and Percocet. One …
Sore Throat Requires Careful Evaluation
There was a time when most severe sore throats were treated with big doses of penicillin. That was because strep infections were not easy to diagnose and penicillin antibiotics are highly effecting fo…