Medical Negligence and Patient Management

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by: Hollie Wilcox
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Word Count: 405
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 Time: 6:34 AM
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It has been said by some that we are now in the age of evidenced-based medicine. What this means is that the "conscientious, explicit, and judicious use" of current available best evidence is to be used in making decisions about the care of individual patients. This is opposed to what otherwise might be considered anecdotal evidence, which can be biased by recent experiences, and is more local to the opinion of the doctor and patient than say, long-term studies on a disease.

When dealing with patients, doctors have shifted to using the larger more objective studies for making decisions, the so-called "gold standard" data now available through research and testing, especially with respect to pharmaceuticals and their action on certain disease states. This however, is not the only source of information the doctor has at his disposal, but in analysing case studies on patient presentation used in Medical Schools, it is clear that doctors are now being trained to apply the best current evidence, whether or not it is completely relevant, or for that matter, thoroughly tested on the long term. Here, the influence of Big Pharma is felt, and whether one wants to completely admit to it, technological advances always have a certain appeal in medical decision-making. Especially in the area of patient management, cognitive short cuts have become the doctor's best friend.

The term "patient" generally refers to a person who is receiving medical treatment and/or who is under medical care. If a medical professional negligently breaches his respective professional duties owed to the patient, for example, by weighing the probability that this patient's clinical features more closely match the class of those patients with the newest leading diagnostic hypotheses, the physician may overlook features of the individual case that do not fit the latest model and do the patient no good! The very highest priority should be put on choosing a therapeutic modality that improves clinical outcome for the patient. This is not often done in the interests of expediency, or what is usual and customarily allowable by the patient's insurance company. The best physicians will make intelligent decisions most appropriate to a patient and a clinical situation, but these are not always cost-effective, or for that matter, fit the most modern evidence-based medicine. The physician is caught in the trap of medical negligence and patient management, courtesy of heuristics.

About the Author

For more information regarding medical negligence and clinical negligence, please visit http://www.patientlawyers.com, who can provide you with expert legal help and advice.

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