How Doctors Think

I bought this after reading a review in New Scientist magazine when it first came out. As a practitioner and academic (acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine - 30 years)I have developed an understanding of medical pitfalls and "How Doctors Think" made me realise its not just me - even many doctors (Groopman is doctors clinical tutor)are concerned about the state of modern medicine and are taking the problem seriously enough to do research into the errors that occur and how they can be avoided. The author not only discusses this work but gives us the specialist terms for the thinking errors that lie behind medical mistakes - such as "search satisfaction" - when the person stops thinking as soon as they have thought of a diagnosis that might conceivably explain the symptoms. Groopman devotes a chapter to his own experience of trying to navigate the medical maze and getting hopeless and potentially risky care from "top" US specialists. Like another reviewer I have bought a few copies of this book to give as presents - mainly to medical students, with the hope of having them grow up able to avoid the mistakes. This book is great too for all kinds of medical professionals, alternative included, because they too can fall into some of the same thinking traps. Its a useful handbook for patients as well because the author gives questions you can ask that can help guide your carer's thinking. "Is there anything else it could be doctor?", for example, helps counter the "search satisfaction" problem.OK, I've given 5 stars, and I mean it, especially because it connects to an evidence base. The main irritation for me was the chatty New York writing style - "he was a regular guy - a 195 pound pitcher for the Yankees..." kind of thing - but we brits can forgive such stuff if the actual content is so valuable. And it is. Buy this medics and be a good doctor.

Just started reading this book, finding it interesting, had not previously considered GP's thoughts and feelings, and how they affect how they response to patients. Previously had a bad experience with a hospital doctor who made an error, but did not say sorry. That is all l wanted, but since have not seen a Doctor or GP, as no longer trust them. 18 months later, if l contact GP surgery always noticed that l have not visited.

A reminder that Doctors are fallible.That it's most professional for a doctor to say 'I do not know',That opinions, expectations from a patient,from families of patients, can oft be unrealistic. Pressurizing a doctor to offer a fabrication to preserve an ego!That to be in the position of 'Doctor', carries and enormous responsibility. That doctors need to be nurtured.Totally refreshing and an expose of being vulnerably humanA good read for one and all . . . . . !

Very interesting book, I have a very good reason for wanting to read books with this kind of title.Cognitive bias is a problem in every walk of life but when it occurs in possibly our most important encounters , we need to understand how it can colour that encounter and change the course of things.

Loved the way it was written and the fact that you could read it more than once and find something new

Bought this book many years ago (sorry, late review) and after reading it, I lent it to the Medical Consultant on the ward I was a nurse on - he thought it was great, and bought 5 and gave them to his junior doctors!

F or me the book is a confirmation that medicine is a business now and not a vocation and that money and profit therefrom governs all things and that the financial health of those of us who are investors is more important, whether they be taxpayers,tax avoiders o r hedge fund managers. But, this book shows that everyone is not as cynical as me!

A must read for every doctor at all stages in the career. I would recommend this to be introduced in the curriculum of medical schools