Awareness of implicit choices surrounding medical testing can empower patients and lead to more informed health decisions. It's often more beneficial to delay tests until sufficient information is available, whether through additional research, completion of studies, or observation of symptom progression. This approach ensures that patients are equipped to consider the implications of their health decisions, reducing the risk of unnecessary tests and potentially dangerous choices.
Physician Adam Cifu keeps a binder of every patient of his who has passed away. Every once in a while, he opens it and remembers the lives of his past patients. Morbid? Maybe a little. But it's just one of the ways Cifu tries to make his practice of medicine more mindful. In this conversation with EconTalk's Russ Roberts, Cifu explores the human side of medicine and the challenges of being a good doctor.