Physical Diagnosis: A Lost Art?

[Guest guest]

'At present, internists can become board certified

without having their skills tested at the bedside by

certifying examiners.

This would be the equivalent of allowing commercial

pilots to fly us around without anyone having

demonstrated that they were capable of flying.'

 

Physical Diagnosis: A Lost Art?

 

Commentary by George R. Thompson III, MD, and Abraham

Verghese, MD

http://webmm.ahrq.gov/case.aspx?caseID=131

[Guest guest]

Dar:

 

Rings true here.

 

I just underwent sciatica treatment from a westernized

doctor in China. He ordered CT and MRI, took my blood

pressure each time (the extent of his physical

diagnosis) then punctured me with injections in the

lower back.

 

He told me I had an " athlete's blood pressure. "

 

Last week in Beijing I visited a well-known TCM

hospital and had a diagnosis by an old TCM doctor. He

took readings on both wrist areas simultaneously (ba

mai). Within seconds he knew my history, diagnosed my

major problems and prescribed a few herbal medicines.

 

The old doctor scoffed at the idea of " athlete's blood

pressure " and said instead my blood fats were too

high.

 

The TCM doctor (70) might have been ten years older

than the westernized doctor (60), but there was a

tremendous difference between their diagnostic

approaches.

 

Kind regards, Jack

 

--- dar <dobbie606 wrote:

 

>

>

> 'At present, internists can become board certified

> without having their skills tested at the bedside by

> certifying examiners.

> This would be the equivalent of allowing commercial

> pilots to fly us around without anyone having

> demonstrated that they were capable of flying.'

>

> Physical Diagnosis: A Lost Art?

>

> Commentary by George R. Thompson III, MD, and

> Abraham

> Verghese, MD

> http://webmm.ahrq.gov/case.aspx?caseID=131

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , dar <dobbie606 wrote:

>

>

>

> 'At present, internists can become board certified

> without having their skills tested at the bedside by

> certifying examiners.

 

I have posted here before on this subject. I have known many great

diagnosticians and it is through these people that it has been made

clear that until one learns to 'SEE' disease and health in patients

there is no diagnosis. Just learning rules of diagnosis will not make

a physician - a physician must understand what disease and health are

and they must recognize these states when they see them. Rules and

stratagies will give a frame work but the important factor is the

patient who never fits neatly into these rules - the healer must see

the patient with disease - not the rules. I have seen so many healers

get lost in rules while ignoring the patient in front of them - this

is not the practice of medicine.