MY PAPER THURSDAY JULY 9, 2009
MY SAY
WAIT BEFORE GIVING FIRM DIAGNOSIS
WAS surprised to read the letter, “Docs’ diagnoses needed before patients take allergy tests”
(my paper, July 8).
As the writer mentioned, doctors arrive at their diagnoses through a rigorous process.
However, a doctor should be mindful not to cause a patient unnecessary distress in the interim while waiting for the results of a test to come back.
Why give a diagnosis – whether provisional or otherwise – in the case of a suspected allergy, if a bit of waiting and caution can result in a more concrete diagnosis and plan of treatment?
Ms Dawn Kua
