Medical Ethicist Dr. Steven D. Pearson says definitely not.
Pearson’s opinions help shape policies that become written into law. His mission: To reduce variation in physician behavior. He believes medical care will be better, safer, and more cost-efficient when physicians base clinical judgments on “solid empirical science instead of clinical observation and experience.”
Dr. Pearson’s word choice is key to understanding where he’s coming from—and how your doctor may be required to treat you at your next appointment. Notice, Pearson uses the term “instead of” as if suggesting solid empirical science and personal experience are mutually exclusive and cannot be reconciled. His assumption seems to be that the average physician is incapable of safely assimilating new experiences.
Conformity is Safety
According to Dr. Pearson, all doctors should treat people with the same diagnosis—say high cholesterol, or cancer—the same way, and their treatment plans should be based entirely on published protocols and guidelines. (more…)
