EP170: The Human Side of Medicine: Confronting Error and Discordance

Embracing Imperfection: Navigating Error and Diagnostic Discordance in Medicine In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine reflects on key insights from various experts across multiple episodes that discuss the inevitability of errors and diagnostic discordance in medical practice. Featuring quotes from Dr. Philip McKee, Dr. Ale Gru, Dr. Rose Elenitsas, Dr. Gauri Agarwal, and others, the transcript emphasizes the human aspect of medicine where perfection is impossible yet striving to mitigate errors and understanding diagnostic differences is crucial. The discussion extends to emotional intelligence, self-compassion, and the importance of creating a supportive environment where physicians can safely process and confront their mistakes, ensuring continuous improvement and better patient care. 00:00 Introduction and Purpose 00:10 Understanding Diagnostic Error 00:40 Expert Opinions on Error 02:12 The Concept of "Good Enough" 03:49 Diagnostic Discordance 05:14 Facing Failure and Self-Compassion 06:07 Changing Behavior and Resilience 07:31 Emotional Intelligence in Medicine 12:43 Confronting and Processing Error 15:24 Conclusion and Call to Action