I understand your rationale for the "wait and watch" option, and agree fully with it.
> "well maybe they do, but it is out of carelessness rather than a problem with there software."
I think this statement precisely illustrates the point that the parent commentator has with much of the medical community. Think about what the "carelessness" of a radiologist that you're talking so flippantly about means for a family – the anguish, sleepless nights, and feeling of morbidity and helplessness.
I may be overreacting here, but I would be extremely worried if a radiologist can be careless and ruin a year or more of someone's life, possibly forcing them into opting for a highly risky surgery. If you think there is a chance that your radiologists are not measuring things properly, wouldn't it be beneficial to start a double-checking procedure of some kind whereby each MRI is checked by 2 radiologists and a doctor (or something of the kind)?
Agreed, carelessness can cause serious issues. I see it sometimes but overall I would say most doctors (I in a tertiary care academic facility so obviously there is a bias) take their job quite seriously and understand the gravity of decisions they make.
It's proabably a waste of resources and time to have a 2-check method as protocol (doctors are already overworked). Often times it is present informally (radiologists/pathologists will often have their colleagus review problematic cases for agreement and neurologists and surgeons will frequently review the films)
What everyone should do is realize you can always get a second opinion and have another expert review the material.
On the point of 2 radiologists checking, as a routine that would be too uneconomical, so if you wanted 2 people check you'd have to get a second opinion. Most likely on your own cash, since (as far as I am aware) everywhere medicine is in more demand than supply.
However you can be assured before an actual surgery, the same films will be reviewed by many doctors. Meaning that a mistake falling through everyone's mind is less likely.
I do agree with your point that sometimes a mistake can have a large impact on people. It's one of the challenges of medicine I'm not sure anyone has a solution to. On the flip side there would be many who are properly told the correct analysis, but i guess sometimes you get unlucky and a human error is made.
Welcome to modern society. Likely the radiologist etc see so many people that caring about each and every one would result in a early retirement for exhaustion or similar.
That was the most succinct summary of the attitude i've seen many times amongst doctors. I'm saving that :D
It's always funny when someone thinks they're the center of attention... yes in a perfect world I'd remember everything and care only about you but if I do that I won't be finished my job. After a while I've noticed even as a student (and certainly picked up that a few doctors) that if you try care on a more personal level about every person, you'll be knocked down more and it'll be harder to function. Hence why I think a middle ground or even lack of care is what you see.
> "well maybe they do, but it is out of carelessness rather than a problem with there software."
I think this statement precisely illustrates the point that the parent commentator has with much of the medical community. Think about what the "carelessness" of a radiologist that you're talking so flippantly about means for a family – the anguish, sleepless nights, and feeling of morbidity and helplessness.
I may be overreacting here, but I would be extremely worried if a radiologist can be careless and ruin a year or more of someone's life, possibly forcing them into opting for a highly risky surgery. If you think there is a chance that your radiologists are not measuring things properly, wouldn't it be beneficial to start a double-checking procedure of some kind whereby each MRI is checked by 2 radiologists and a doctor (or something of the kind)?