the verdict.

Today was my last day of jury duty. We reached a verdict fairly quickly and found both doctors not guilty of malpractice. It was an extremely interesting case--we had to gauge how far human error is allowed and, subsequently, what counts as negligence. I was convinced from the second day that although one of the doctors had made a mistake in the diagnosis, he was in no way negligent. We all sympathized with the plaintiff, but given the fact that she's been cancer-free for five years yet still living on disability--with the hope that this case "will right the wrong done to her"--we found little need to find the radiologists, who had never met her before last week, guilty of helping to advance her cancer.

I now know more than I ever thought I would about the mediastinum, non-hodgkin's lymphoma, diviated tracheas, and how many creditials dr. blah blah blah has. But I also have learned a lot about how hospitals are run, radiology, and that you must always clearly state exactly what is wrong. If you are at the dermatologist and he asks you about chest pains, NEVER think, "Well, I have a little cough at night, but that has nothing to do with this rash." I mean, don't sound like a hypochondriac--the pain in your big toe is probably not of concern--but if you're not feeling well, document everything. Don't fudge answers--be direct. No saying, "Well, maybe, I guess...". Be clear and concise. AND DON'T LIE. For the love of god, don't lie. Sure, this random doctor may judge you for a second (although I'm sure not--they've heard worse), but in the long run it's more important to be honest. Trust me.