Rapid Responses to:

EDUCATION AND DEBATE: Colin P Bradley Can we avoid bias? BMJ 2005; 330: 784 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Another forcing strategy

Stephen Workman   (2 April 2005)

Another forcing strategy 2 April 2005
Stephen Workman, Physician QEII Health Sciences Center Halifax Nova Scotia Send response to journal: Re: Another forcing strategy	Asking oneself 'What else could this be?' is a useful diagnostic check. Another simple step is checking for diagnostic congruence. Diagnosis depends upon history, physical and lab findings. If all three clearly point to one diagnosis consider explicitly whether a differential diagnosis is necessary. If two out of three are congruent, a diagnosis, differential diagnosis and consideration of yet unthought of possiblities is necessary. Finally, if there is no congruence perhaps it is time to sit down and think things out in a deliberate manner or get a second opinion. Competing interests: None declared