[pooh]

Originally Posted by DoctorA

The problem you are all missing is the meaning of the word necessary. We do our best to diagnose and treat patients. Obviously, this is how we make a living. But, I found that you do make more money by being the best doctor possible and treating your patients the same way you would treat another physician, i.e. an educated consumer.

That being said, this is not making a cake where there is an exact recipe. For example, my neighbor just went to the hospital with symptoms and a history that would force a good doctor to do a heart work up. That would include labs (done many times over 3 days) and a stress test. All this to rule out something he didn't have.

In some hospitals he also would have had to do an angiogram. This is an invasive procedure, and that may have been the time for the patient to ask himself if it is 'really' needed. The question are: do you do the test to be sure or safe? In addition, do you do it to protect against malpractice if something is there that could be missed?

This is an art and a science, and as doctors... we make EDUCATED guesses. I am not speaking to what this doctor ( the one in the thread ) did or should have done. I can just tell you that most doctors don't spend 10 plus years or 75 plus hour weeks with little or no pay, motivated by ripping people off.

Mostly they want to help people. I know there are a few bad apples. But maybe this thread could have started with: 'Do you think these tests A,B, and C are excessive for these symptoms?' 'What tests have your doctor done for this?'... That might have opened a more useful dialog.

P.S. Sorry for any typos as I did this on my iPhone.

Thank you!!!

(And you did a fine job using your phone.)