What do you do if logical reasoning fails to guide your diagnosis and treatment decisions with physicians?

2 Seek additional information

Sometimes, logical reasoning fails because you lack sufficient or reliable information to make a sound decision. In that case, you should seek additional information from various sources, such as literature reviews, clinical guidelines, expert opinions, or patient feedback. You should also verify the quality and validity of the information you find, and compare it with your own data and experience. By seeking additional information, you can enhance your knowledge base, reduce uncertainty, and improve your confidence.

3 Explore alternative perspectives

Another strategy to deal with logical reasoning failures is to explore alternative perspectives from different angles. You can do this by asking yourself or your physician partner questions that challenge your assumptions, test your hypotheses, or generate new ideas. You can also use tools such as decision trees, mind maps, or pro-con lists to organize and visualize your options and outcomes. By exploring alternative perspectives, you can broaden your horizon, discover new possibilities, and avoid biases.

4 Collaborate with others

Working with physicians requires collaboration and teamwork, especially when logical reasoning is not enough to reach a consensus. You should respect and appreciate the diversity of opinions and expertise that your colleagues bring to the table, and seek their input and feedback. You should also communicate clearly and respectfully, and listen actively and empathetically. By collaborating with others, you can leverage the collective wisdom, creativity, and experience of your team, and find the best solution for your patients.

5 Adapt to the situation

Finally, you should be flexible and adaptable to the situation, and recognize that logical reasoning is not the only way to make medical decisions. Sometimes, you may have to rely on your intuition, judgment, or experience, and accept that there is no perfect or definitive answer. You may also have to compromise, negotiate, or defer your decision, depending on the urgency, complexity, or sensitivity of the case. By adapting to the situation, you can cope with the challenges, uncertainties, and risks that come with working with physicians.