When I was in residency, an attending I wasn't even working with overheard me talking to a patient, and when the patient asked me a question that I didn't know the answer to, and I replied, "I'm sorry, but I don't know."
Afterward, the doctor took me aside and said, "you should never say you don't know."
"But I didn't know!" I protested.
"But you shouldn't say that."
"But you shouldn't say that."
I guess as doctors we are supposed to give the impression of knowing everything. All the time.
I object to this though. I would rather be honest with a patient when I don't know something, rather than make something up or say some sort of mumbo-jumbo to avoid admitting that I don't know everything.
I have way more respect for a doctor that is willing to admit they don't know something than one that pretends to know everything.
ReplyDeleteYes. We can figure out when you are steining us.
DeleteIn the army I was taught to follow "I don't know" with "but I will find out and get back to you."
ReplyDeleteThis is how we were taught to respond in medical school. No one can know everything and if you pretend to do so, you just look stupid.
DeleteAnd this is what I teach my students at Pharmacy School. Better to admit you don't know and take the time to find out the actual answer than try and muddle your way through it.
DeleteNursing school teaches the same thing. "I will find out for you" is better than "I don't know," and MUCH better than ducking the question.
DeleteAs a former caregiver, I *much* prefer your honesty. My late wife had a rare disease, which I knew more about than most of the physicians she saw. I always relaxed when they admitted they didn't know much (or anything) about her disease(s). I worried a lot when they pretended to know something they didn't (especially when I knew they were wrong, of course!).
ReplyDeleteBullshit is usually easy to see through and doesn't impress anyone. Most people can handle the truth.
ReplyDeleteI know everyone says they want a doctor who admits when she doesn't know something...but every time I've told a patient I don't know what he/she has, I get yelled at by the patient. I'm starting to think people would be happier if I just made something up already.
ReplyDelete