Sorni said:Tony Raven said:Paul Murphy said:
An issue on the news this morning here in the UK (Harold Shipman).
There's also that recent case of a nurse who was deliberately making
people sick so that he could miraculously resuscitate them and be
thought of as the hero. Worrying stuff.Quoted message said:Unless you look at the statistics and find you are much more at
danger from your doctors incompetence than you ever are from his
intent. But we know some people here don't do statistics.OK, here's a question: What if the statistics said that *50%* of
doctors are incompetent (or worse)? Or *90%*? Would you stop
getting medical care? Or would you stay with your current doctor if
he or she has earned your trust -- or use care and scrutiny in
finding a new one -- like presumably you did in the first place?IOW, what good are your precious statistics in practical terms in this
(your) example? How do your choices, decisions or behaviors change? It
might be good to know, but it doesn't /always/ have any tangible
benefit.
One more thing. Statistics like the above hypothetical example (50% of
doctors incompetent) ARE useful in terms of public policy, professional
boards (increasing minimum standards), etc. If half the doctors are lousy,
then obviously something's wrong in the system and changes have to be
instituted ASAP. However, when /you/ have an inflamed boil on /your/
butt -- and I suspect a number of you suffer from just that -- then you're
still going to go see your doc (hopefully one you've come to trust).
Similarly, helmet studies and statistics can be useful for public policy
matters -- by MHL proponents and opponents, industry standards to avoid
unsafe products and meet minimum protection levels, improved venues for
cyclists if injury trends reveal a chronic problem area, etc. However, the
/individual/ must (or should be able to) still decide for him- or herself
what's best for his or her particular circumstances. (Heck, maybe you'd
rather get your butt boil fixed by a cobbler than a doctor; your choice!)
Butting back out, Bill S.