OVERSPECIALISATION IN MEDICINE, OR WHAT ABOUT NOT SEEING THE FORREST BECAUSE OF THE TREES?

Abstract

Since early historical medical approach: shamanic era, ancient Hyppocrates, Galen and Avicenna’s medical records, till today many progresses were made in the medical field. Yet, despite the technological achievements the efficiency of medical work didn’t always increase accordingly. A lot of diagnosis errors still occur.What could be the causes? One possibility among others could be overspecialization with seing just a part of the true. Some clinical cases are presented to point that situation out. In the meantime this paper emphasizes the importance of reassessing the way of medical thinking by highlighting the importance of integrative medical approach. The key for decreasing diagnosis mistakes is in fact a multiple step process.There are some sides related exclusivily to our doctor’s work as a routine and many others related to the providers ( medical system) by far more complex and with bigger impact. From my doctor’s point of view it’s mandatory to have the knowledge, that means a very good initially and if necessary further evaluation of the patient, integrative operational skills and experience leading to the relevant clinical data that will serve to a good orientation, completing the overall knowledge and decreasing the social costs, good and efficient communication system, active follow-up of the patients and if necessary rebuilding another way of thinking the first diagnosis, based on new evidence, reviewing and adjusting, trying not to be so “overconfidentâ€, having the courrage and dignity to face our own mistakes, demanding a second opinion, relearning and becoming even better by using feedback. The lack of time and daily routine imposed by overspecialisation, overstandardization and many algorithms and guidelines ment to do our work easiear, somehow lead to an automatically judgement, putting us sometimes in the position of easyness and superficiallity.