Posted by jlo820 on August 6, 2003, at 13:30:44
In reply to Order of Diagnosis, posted by Sleepy Susan on August 6, 2003, at 10:46:04
Making a diagnosis for a patient is a very rational process. When examining a patient, doctors look at all the possibilities for a diagnosis in the order of likelihood. Several rules that are used are:
1. Disorders due to a general medical condition or, or cognitive disorders, pre-empt all other diagnoses that could produce the same symptoms.
2. Doctors will try to explain all the symptoms with the fewest diagnoses possible.
3. They also consider first disorders that have been present longer (If you have A and develop B, perhaps A caused B, so treat A).
5. Family history is used as a guide
4. If all else fails, the safest diagnosis is given.Often doctors are able to make a good initial diagnosis on a first visit. But as you continue to see them, and open up more, they learn more about the problem and will someitmes change their diagnosis or add to it...this is not uncommon.
poster:jlo820
thread:248588
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/248645.html