Cognition Conundrum

Diagnostic errors are a significant contributor to adverse events; up to 15% of diagnoses are not correct. Why does this occur? It's not because the clinician lacks knowledge, but instead due to problems in the way the clinicians think. Humans are subject to cognitive bias and false assumptions. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine describes how intuitive, reflexive thinking can help us think quickly, but can also lead to cognitive errors. People see what they are looking for. The assessment of a patient diagnosed with pneumonia from an outside clinic may only focus on ruling out pneumonia and miss another respiratory condition. Overcoming these biases is extremely difficult, although focus on critical thinking and mindfulness may help.