(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19: Doctor decision-making versus politician policy-making
Doctors are judged by decision-making. If poor, you are sued or lose your license. If good, you receive a genuine “thank you.”
A patient visits his physician: “I have a stomach ache after eating clams last night.” He is quickly sent home after a cursory exam with a diagnosis of “gastroenteritis”, then returns 5 hours later in cardiac arrest and placed on life-support. Poor decision-making.
Good decision-making comes after numerous questions, a through physical exam, evaluating and interpreting ordered tests, then making a diagnosis. It is based on organized training, experience, and continuous up-to-date education.
Likewise, politicians should be judged by policy-making. This extends into healthcare with the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, we medically see unorganized federal policy-making, some of it is controversial, much of it without oversight, and an absence of an effective supply chain. Poor policy-making.
Without good politician policy-making, medical decision-making is suffering.
Politicians can’t be sued for malpractice, or lose their license. And as you know, they rarely are held accountable. With time, history will judge policy-making of present-day politicians.
Hopefully by then, the country will not be on life-support.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
This illustration depicts a doctor wearing a lab coat looking at a clipboard and scratching his head.
Leave a Comment