The chapter explores the complexities of making medical decisions, including the surprising finding of lower mortality rates during a cardiology conference. It discusses the potential incentives and driving factors behind ordering procedures and emphasizes the importance of considering individual patient risks and benefits. The chapter also touches on the qualities of a good doctor and the need for improved training methods.
Do marathons kill people who aren't in the race? Does when you're born make you more likely to get the flu? And what's the difference between a good doctor and a bad one? These are some of the questions Anupam Bapu Jena of Harvard University and EconTalk host Russ Roberts take up as they discuss Jena's book, Random Acts of Medicine.