Doctors tend to be perfectionists. Do you agree? Or is it the fear of litigation, the gremlin on your shoulder, which makes you do everything in an obsessional way?
There is a very narrow distinction between being ‘good enough’ and being ‘perfect’ and sometimes it just isn’t possible, however careful you are, to be 100% perfect.
Dr. A might not be able to make any decision without consulting a superior whereas Dr. B might rush into something without considering the possible outcomes. Of course in Medicine you may not be certain of the way things will turn out. You can only think of probabilities. When I had a laporoscopic cholecystectomy a few months ago the surgeon warned me that if my gall bladder was too difficult to reach I would have to have the abdominal op. My first question on waking from the anaesthetic was : ‘Do I have a big scar of little scars?’
So bear in mind that as a doctor you may not be able to predict precisely what will happen to the patient you can only talk of likelihood and possibility. Think of the outcome the patient and you want and address these issues. This philosohy applies to life in general of course: you cannot be 100% cerain of the outcome of a certain action, you can ony look at the possibilities and then make the decision based maybe on eveidence, your gut feelings, what people tell you and what you see happening to others in similar circumstances. be clear about what you want and take action: ‘just do it’ – you don’t have to be perfect!!
