Monday, November 20, 2017

Negative risks

Patient I saw for a stroke recently. The hospitalist's note used this nonsensical template. I understand what he's saying, but it sure looks stupid.



9 comments:

  1. Patient behavior modification through reverse psychology.

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  2. Whenever I see that a patient "denies" behaviors, to me that term implies doubt.

    Patient denies smoking. (but I think they probably do)
    Patient denies drug use. (yeah, right)

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  3. Apparently you are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

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  4. It makes you wonder who had the stroke?

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  5. My personal favorite: "Patient does not report having symptoms of..." If I didn't ask them about it, they didn't report them!

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  6. I think it's just the way physicians and whomever it may be writes in the notes, or maybe it is really a question of denial, for the question of denial of this or that. Whenever I see that phraseology, I have this picture in my head of some aghast person, saying "Well, I nevah ..." and, then I don't know if the next question should be some sort of disclaimer, like , "Well, I haven't smoked/inhaled/drank/participated in such and such activity ... since yesterday".

    Which brings up the next question, how to interpret 'may', whether it's a permission and allowable, or a command. For example, he or she or it or they 'may' do this or that, or "may not" as if there is a choice about whether the action should commence, or "maybe, not"?

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  7. Tarquin "R.J." Toffeebridge VNovember 22, 2017 at 1:16 AM

    18 more guesses...

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So wadda you think?