Problem Differentiation

Abstract

When seeing a new patient or one with a new problem, it is essential that a physician carefully differentiate signs and symptoms into discrete entities. Given the biological and sociocultural complexity of humans, this is not always a simple matter. The time necessary to establish a diagnostic position, and hence a therapeutic position, is often fraught with varying degrees of uncertainty. Since medical practice is neither an exact science nor a mechanical process nor merely a skillful application of underlying principles, it is helpful to examine the context of interaction between doctor and patient.