THE SECRETS OF MEDICAL DECISION MAKING: HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM OF THE HEALTH CARE MACHINE
By Oleg I. Reznic, M.D.

“Primum Non Nocere”

House, E.R. and Grays Anatomy are not realistic portrayals of the American medical system. According to Dr. Resnik physicians are so afraid of litigation that any deviation from pre-set protocols to treat the patient as an individual and not the so-called disease is unusual. Doctors like Greg House, John Carter would be immediately dismissed and find it impossible to acquire mal-practice insurance. It is chilling to think that the media inspired idea of the omnipotent good-hearted doctor like Marcus Welby or reassuring throaty voiced Dr. Kelly Bracket from Emergency is so false.
When sickness strikes us or a loved one, we expect that in this technological twenty-first century age of marvels that just like our cars or appliances that have ‘crapped the bed’:
A. We can be fixed with some kind of medication or therapy.
Or
B. Our parts can be removed and replaced and we can continue our lives already in progress and unabated
Doctor Reznik has pried our heads from the sand, removed our rose-colored glasses and has cut off our source of pap from the glass teat. He has taught us to advocate for ourselves and ask questions, even while the insurance and pharmaceutical behemoths perpetuate the myth that an American homeostasis of mental and physical health is only one more pill, test or procedure away.