When Doctors Don’t Listen- How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests
Dr. Leana Wen & Dr. Joshua Kosowsky
Thomas Dunne Books, 2013
For as long as we could remember, we’ve always heard a variation of, “Oh, listen to the doctor. The doctor always knows best.” We’ve put so much trust into our doctors that sometimes we ignore what our very own bodies are telling us. When Doctors Don’t Listen introduces a new concept that encourages the patient to take a more proactive role in their own healthcare. In this book, Dr. Leana Wen and Dr. Joshua Kosowsky begin to untangle the root causes of over-testing and misdiagnosis in the medical world.
Dr. Wen and Dr. Kosowsky first expose an outdated practice used frequently in the world of doctors: cookbook medicine. Cookbook medicine works by taking the patient’s “main” symptom and sending them down a long road of clinical procedures to simplify the diagnosis process. Because of cookbook medicine, healthcare costs are inflating, unnecessary tests are wasted, misdiagnoses are more frequent, and, most importantly, real communication between the patient and the doctor becomes more and more obsolete. Using real patient stories from the ER, Dr. Wen and Dr. Kosowsky illustrate a vivid picture of how cookbook medicine leaves patients confused, scared, and alone in the healthcare process.
So the big question is: what can we do about it? Dr. Wen and Dr. Kosowsky offer the eight pillars to a better diagnosis. The eight pillars include options to make yourself an equal partner in the doctor-patient relationship. From participating in your physical exam to telling your whole story, When Doctors Don’t Listen offers seemingly simple tips that are too often overlooked as patients. Overall, When Doctors Don’t Listen offers invaluable advice on how to be a better patient, by treating yourself as a partner with your doctor rather than a bystander.