http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/health/the-human-touch-amid-big-data-medicine-review-of-when-doctors-dont-listen.html?ref=health&_r=0
In the The New York Times article A Prescription for Fustration by Abigail Zuger, she talks about algorithms. They are flow charts that are created by groups. Many doctors use it. They are used more in emergency rooms, rather then clinics or such. Basically these charts are broken up, so the more a person has going on, the bigger the flow chart is. they help ensure that people have no medical risks. Algorithms are like cookbooks. They combine different tests and scans, which then gives them a diagnosis. There are cases in which these "cookbooks" fail. They backfire and do not work. That is when college students who have been studying come in and help out to fix these mistakes.
I personally think that if these "cookbooks" can fail and backfire, they should not be used. Why should their be a risk taken. I would not want possibilities of my life failing because of some algorithm charts. I mean think about it, would you? They are not 100% guaranteed.
Yesenia, I found your article interesting. I say this because I am amazed that they actually use this algorithms "cookbook" charts. You would think with how modernized and advanced the health care industry is, that they would find a better system to use. I would also think about all the lawsuits they could have on their hands if they were to wrongly diagnose someone an then they die or get really sick. I agree with you that I too would not want this chart to wrongly diagnose me. How scary would that be? I can't even imagine what that would be like. I am sure that it works for some people, but if its not 100%, then they should try new ways of finding a diagnoses on somebody. I am sure until that day comes they will still use it.
ReplyDelete