More Patients Are Ignoring Physicians' Advice
MarketWatch recently published its conclusion that "Americans are now utterly intolerant of ever being told they're wrong about almost anything."[1] The author, Tom Nichols, PhD, asserts that this problem, although nothing new, has reached such a proportion to become a national crisis and a threat to the ongoing existence of our society. Perhaps understanding this phenomenon would help when it comes to understanding the critical inefficiencies and redundancies of the US healthcare system.
Examples of this unwillingness to accept differing views may, at times, show up in the issue of some second opinions; some uses of urgent appointment clinics; and instances of rejection of medical advice. There are absolutely important examples in each of these three instances that are both highly appropriate and strongly recommended by independent counsel.
I have gone to great lengths to arrange second (and third) opinions for patients, at medical centers from coast to coast. In such cases, the additional opinion can serve to underscore and emphasize the referring physician's position and advice. Second, there are times when urgent appointment clinics are the most timely and efficient means to meet a patient's need.
Third, I know of some examples where patients have avoided major medical complications by ignoring medical advice.
