Clinical reasoning, bias, and diagnostic uncertainty

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Target exams

Red flags

• Premature closure is the commonest cause of diagnostic error — once you have a label, actively seek evidence that contradicts it before committing
• Diagnostic momentum kills: a label acquired from a referral letter or previous clinician sticks even when your own findings contradict it
• Gut feeling that something is seriously wrong warrants action even when you cannot name the diagnosis — pooled OR 4.24 for cancer when GPs record gut feelings
• Safety-net every uncertain diagnosis: name the working diagnosis, list specific return triggers, book a review date — every time