S-Like every human mind,physician can have biases too. Though medical profession strives for equal treatment of all patients but despite that knowingly or unknowingly bias do occur at all levels including physician bias which can impact on patient care.
O-For example, biases against obese patient or pain management or COPD patients are common and have been shown to affect a physician’s practice style. As a result, unknowingly this can affect their care. While prescribing narcotics to a patient, I do consider patient’s previous substance abuse history which may not be relevant sometime to patient’s current acute pain episode and in such circumstances, despite putting best effort to provide optimal care, may result in a bias.
A/P: To combat this, one should have knowledge of their own bias. Through SDH discussion session, make me aware of most commonly encounter physician bias.
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