What Makes a Good Doctor

[Karen99]

With his permission, I am reposting these maxims from Michael Schaer DVM from  Arnold L. Goldman, D.V.M. posting at:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/144596.  ;

There is much wisdom in Uncle Mickey's words.  #2 and #20 could benefit our group of people here, if only neurologists would apply what they should know.  

"Uncle Mikey's" Maxims

1. Treat for the treatable.
2. Assumptions lead to trouble; therefore don't assume.
3. Always interpret clinical information within the context of the patient's presentation.
4. Avoid tunnel vision.
5. Treat your patient, not just its disease.
6. Avoid overmedicating.
7. Be honest with yourself.
8. Don't postpone today's urgencies until tomorrow.
9. Think that common things occur commonly.
10. Look closely at your patient; it will usually tell you what's wrong.
11. Never let your patient die without the benefit of the silver bullet.
12. When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, but don't forget about the zebras.
13. Never sell the basics short-they are still the best buy in town.
14. If you don't think it, you won't find it.
15. Never let a biological specimen go to waste.
16. Disaster lurks whenever a patient's problem is "routine."
17. If it's not getting worse, give it a chance to get better.
18. Don't stray too far from the patient -- the diagnosis will appear eventually.
19. Don't give your patient a disease it doesn't deserve to have.
20. Don't let technology make you "decerebrate."
21. The necropsy is the clinician's trial by jury.
22. The wisdom of experience should never be ignored.

Michael Schaer, DVM
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/144596

[orb4me]

These are great.  Thank you for posting them.

[Udkas]

Thanks for sharing this vets great words of wisdom, shame that more people don't follow.

[Quixotic1]

These boil down to LISTEN, LOOK, and THINK.  Along with treat your patients like you would want your mother, child or family pet treated.

I was taught that if you listen well enough, the patient will eventually tell you what the diagnosis is.

Q

[rendean]

I saw this the other day  and was disappointed when I saw his title was DVM and not MD. If only  we could all find docs this good. My favs are #14, 16 and 20.

Karen, thanks for sharing this great piece!

Ren

[Lulu54]

#15 made me chuckle because it conjurs up all sorts of images

#20 made me go to the dictionary.

Thanks for sharing this wise list - too bad he treats animals and not humans.  Lucky animals..........

as always,
Lulu