Some cancer screening tests have been so well proven to save lives, like the colonoscopy, that if you don’t get one, you need more than your colon examined (to borrow from an old Cancer Society slogan about mammograms). But it’s now clear that mammograms don’t fit into guilt-trip status anymore. Using radiation to find lumps….
Continue ReadingMisdiagnosis
Malpractice in Over-Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
A long article in the New York Times brings home the dangers of women undergoing disfiguring surgery or radiation for breast cancer they never had. The story is a familiar one to malpractice attorneys but not well enough known to the public: The critical job of determining if breast tissue is cancerous or not is….
Continue ReadingA Virginia Child’s Story Shows Why Every Patient Needs an Advocate in the Hospital
Every hospital patient needs someone with them at all times to help prevent medical errors and keep them safe. That’s a mantra I have advocated for years, and another example of why it’s good advice comes with a riveting story in the Washington Post by health writer Sandra Boodman. Ms. Boodman’s article tells how a….
Continue ReadingWho’s to Blame for a Missed Diagnosis?
That question was asked in a New York Times column by Dr. Pauline Chen, and her column prompted a number of thoughtful comments by both doctors and patients. Clear communication is a critical element to good diagnosis, and that puts burdens on both doctors and patients. Some of the comments on the column which I….
Continue ReadingA Treatable Brain Disorder Can Masquerade as Dementia
When someone over age 55 develops memory problems, it is often diagnosed as Alzheimer’s, or another type of dementia, or perhaps Parkinson’s disease, all of which are progressive and non-reversible. But families should be aware of one condition that can masquerade as any of these but if accurately diagnosed, can be treated successfully. The condition….
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