I'm a Doctor. You Shouldn't Always Trust Us
From The Free Press: What happens when the medical experts do not know what's best. But the real story here reveals the depth and beauty of human life. Moving, and insightful. Worth your time.
The doctor was not consciously trying to recommend a suboptimal procedure, but I knew the invasive route would generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hospital, and this doctor’s pay was tied to booking these procedures.
I confirmed with the oncologist: “You are recommending an invasive diagnostic procedure that would under no scenario extend her life more than a couple of months and risk my mom dying alone in a hospital room? Even though we are certain that this is stage 4 pancreatic cancer based on the CA 19-9 blood test and CT scan, and that she has liver failure and almost no red blood cells left?”
“Yes, that is what we’re recommending,” the doctor replied.
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