The clinical approach toward elderly patients is often very complex and associated with an increased risk of medical errors. This case report is an example of how various objective (related to patient) and subjective (related to physicians) factors may influence the optimal diagnostic approach in elderly frail patients. We also discuss geriatric practice, which must be characterized by the intellectual honesty to refuse any sort of prejudices (such as ageism) and by the skill to navigate between the Scylla (ie, viewing clinical problems as unrelated to each other) and the Charibdy (ie, applying the Occam's razor principle) of the patient's complexity.
Turco, R., Torpilliesi, T., Morghen, S., Bellelli, G., Trabucchi, M. (2009). Clinical complexity and Occam's razor: navigating between Scylla and Charibdy of the geriatric practice. A case of secondary hypertension in a very old patient. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, 10(4), 281-282 [10.1016/j.jamda.2009.01.005].
Clinical complexity and Occam's razor: navigating between Scylla and Charibdy of the geriatric practice. A case of secondary hypertension in a very old patient
BELLELLI, GIUSEPPE
;
2009
Abstract
The clinical approach toward elderly patients is often very complex and associated with an increased risk of medical errors. This case report is an example of how various objective (related to patient) and subjective (related to physicians) factors may influence the optimal diagnostic approach in elderly frail patients. We also discuss geriatric practice, which must be characterized by the intellectual honesty to refuse any sort of prejudices (such as ageism) and by the skill to navigate between the Scylla (ie, viewing clinical problems as unrelated to each other) and the Charibdy (ie, applying the Occam's razor principle) of the patient's complexity.
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